Volume 15 , Issue 3

Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement In Virginia

The Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement In Virginia was extracted front he original court records of Augusta county, Virginia of 1745-1800, by Lyman Chalkley, Dean of the College of Law of Kentucky University, late judge of the county court of Augusta county, Virginia. It was publish by Mary S. Lockwood, honorary Vice-president general, National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution, and completed in three volumes, copyrighted 1912.

We find that in 1745, all that portion of the Colony of Virginia which laid west of the Blue Ridge Mountains was erected into a county which was named Augusta. In December, 1745, the county court was organized and held its first sitting. Prior to that time it had become the refuge and abiding place of a strong body of Scotch-Iris immigrants. The bounds of the new county were limited on the north by Fairfax's Northern Neck Grant and the boundaries of Maryland and Pennsylvania to the westward of Fairfax. On the east by the Blue Ridge mountains; on the south by the Caroline line. On the west its territory embraced all the soil held by the British without limit of extent. The county court of Augusta, for twelve years, was the only curt and repository of records within that district.

At frequent intervals, its jurisdiction was restricted by the erection of other counties as the den ads of the settlers required. Its original constitution embraced all Virginia west of the Blue Ridge, with the exception of the Northern Neck Gran, whose southern boundary was in the present county of Shenandoah, and western, through the counties of Hardy, Hampshire and northward tot he Potomac. It also included the whole of the present state of West Virginia, and a portion of the present Western pennsylvania, including Pittsburgh, which was, at times, the seat of the county court. It also included the lands on the waters of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers.

The abstracts of the original court records of Augusta county, Virginia, were compiled by Judge Lyman Chalkley, and were purchased by the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1905. The 21st Congress, NationalSociety of the DAR, held in Washington, DC, April 15-20, 1912, presented these records as a gift outright to Mrs. Mary S. Lockwood, Honorary Vice-president General, National Society of the DAR. We did a search of Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement In Virginia for some of our ancestry surnames: Gwin, Warwick, Magill, and Hull. The following, sorted by date is some that we found.

11 February 1745
Of interest to this NW Okie, I found mention of a Wm Magill and Thos. Stinson, dated 11 February 1745, same from North River to John Anderson's. I am assuming it had something to do with the overseers road form David Davis Mill to top mountain above Wm. King's. Do not which Wm. Magill is or how I am connected. More research is need.

12 May 1746
Robert Gwin was appointed Constable at head of Great Calfpasture. Road ordered from the Great Lick in the cow pasture at Col. Lewis's land to Andrew Hamiltons in Calfpasture. Andrew and George Lewis, Commanders, to mark it off. There was also mention of Edward Boyle sentenced to stacks and fined for damning the court and swearing 4 oaths in their presence.

18 June 1746
James Hogshead, Thomas Black, William Wright, William Guy, Robert Gwin, Charles Hays, George Anderson, Adam Miller, James Robinson, Thomas McCulloch, appointed Constables last court qualified.

20 November 1746

Hugh Thompson and This. Stinson appointed overseers from Wm. Thompson's to the Meeting house. Wm. McGill appointed Constable.

28 May 1751

Edward Davis, servant of John Gilmore of Albemarle, died at the home of James Brown, near the court house, in the town of Staunton, leaving goods and money supposed to have been stolen from Samuel Dunlop of Isle of Wight.

31 May 1751
Margaret, relict of Wm. McGill.

30 November 1751
John Madison to have made books and presses for the preservation of the books and pears of the county. John Warwick, a witness.

2 December 1751
James Brown asks administer of estate of Edward Davis. Benjamin Borden says administer was already granted in General court to James Dunlop; James's wife, Agnes, comes and says she would not believe Benjamin on oath and is fined 40 shillings.

21 August 1752
James Patton and Wm. Elliott ask counter security from Anne Dunlop, Admx. of her decd. husband. She has since married Robert Bratton. Rev. Alexander Craighead, a dissenting minister, took the oaths, subscribed the test, and the 39 articles, except what is exempted by the Act of Toleration, which is ordered to be certified. Robert Bratton in open court made oath to his deposition in favor of Margaret Woods, proving her to be the lawful wife of James Woods. Nicholas Smith, a free mulatto, has moved out of the county and left five small children, to be bound out.

1751-1752
Petition, 1752, of inhabitants from Forks of Roanoke to James Neiley's Majority have to travel 25 to 30 miles to work on ye road from Reed Creek to Warwick. Petition to have road laid off into precincts. William Bryan, John Bryan, James Bryan, William Walcker, James Campbell, Alexander Ingram, Robert Bryan, Henry Brown, James Bane, William Bryan, Jr., Joseph Love.

23 March 1753
Sheriff to sell estate of James Gwin, who lately died in the house of James Miles.

17th July 1753
Inquistion on body of Nicholas Grout (Trout), 17th July 1753. Jurors do say that the said Nicholas Trout, in simplicity, without malice, playing with Peter Hull and seizing a gun in said Hull's hands and pulling its muzzle towards him she accidentally went off without any act or knowledge of the said Hull and discharged herself with a ball and two great shots into ye breast of said Trout, of which he died immediately on ye spot, and quit ye gun wherewith he same as done was entirely in fault for not keeping her bounds, but going off without force or consent. In test: Peter Scholl, Coroner; John Stevenso, Ledwick Francisco, John Mac Michel, James Bruster, Thomas Wats, Thomas Crawford, patrick Milican, John Wilson, Jacob Harman, Niclas Noll, Hennery DAly, Jacob Nicholas.

19 January 1754
19th January 1754, Andrew Lewis entered two 400-care tracts on petter's Creek, a branch of James River, between Adam Dickinson's and the Indian Path; 200 on Warm Spring Mountain, joining the tract formerly Hurden's; three 400-acre branches of James River, near a survey made for William Warwick, and on some of the head branches of ye Back Creek.

March, 1754
Kinkead vs. Lockridge - William Kinkead, an infant under the age of 21 years, son and heir-at-law of Thomas Kinkead, late of county of Augusta, by James Lockhart, his next friend. Bill filed May, 1753. Thomas Kinkead, in 1747, removed from the Province of pennsylvania with orator and Thomas's family. On 19 November 1747, Thomas bought 263 acres joining John preston, Robert Lockridge, Robert Gwin, in Augusta county. Thomas died in 1750 intestate, leaving a widow and children, of whom orator is eldest. Bond of James Lockridge, of Augusta county, with Thomas Kinkead of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, dated 19 November 1747.

29 April 1756
Claims, propositions and grievances: James Beard, claim for ranging; John McClenachan, claim for going express; Robert Bratton, claim for ranging; George Wilson, claim for ranging and provisions for his Company; Abraham Smith, claim for ranging and provisions for his Company; Israel Christian, claim for ranging and provisions; Joseph Kenaday, claim for ranging; Patrick Lowrey, claim for ranging; George Campbell, claim for ranging; John Dickinson, claim for ranging and provisions for his Company; James Dunlop, claim for ranging and provisions for his Company; Archibald Stuart, claim for ranging; John Campbell, claim for ranging.

17 February 1762
Ordered that Michael O'Hara, aged 12, September 11th last, be bound to Alexander Millroy. James Lettimore, servant of Alexander Stewart. john Stuart, aged 18, orphan of James Stuart, chose Joh Hamilton his guardian. Ralph Stuart, aged 15, orphan of James Stuart, chose Robert Stuart his guardian. Ordered that the following orphans be bound: William Meek to William Warwick, Mary Meek to Andrew Settleton, Martha Meek to James Walker, James Meek to William Wilson, Jane Meek to Moses Moore.

25 March 1767
John Warwick and John Davis (Hunter), sureties.

18 August 1767
John Robinson appointed surveyor of highway from his mill by the Den to the County Road leading to Warwick.

16 March 1768
Following orphans of Charles Whitman to be bound: Hurson Mathias Whitman, to James Gregory, to learn trade of a weaver. Catherine Whitman, to Andrew Sitlington. Jacob Whitman, to John Warwick, to learn trade of shoemaker.

10 March 1772
James McGill vs. John McClure - Slander. Writ, 1770. "Would hang as high as Gilderoy." John declares that Archibald Campbell, of Caroline county, is a material witness, and that as he is a single person and, from his father's declaration, he cannot get the benefit of his evidence in the usual way. Prays a commission. 10th March 1772.

18 May 1774
Ephraim Richardson and Wm. Martin, road surveyors from Francis Wier's, on Monongahela River, to Thorny Creek, on waters of Greenbrier. John Warwick, Richard Elliott and Ralph Stewart are exempted form working on above road until it is built. William Hadden is ordered to clear from Thorny Creek to Nap's Creek, with tithables living below him on Nap's Creek, and from Alexander Dunlap's to William Sharp's on Greenbrier. Jacob Warwick, road overseer, from William Warwick's to Back Creek, with tithables from Thomas Cartmell's up Greenbrier to the the head and down Nap's Creek to Moses Moore's.

20 August 1776
Christopher Warwick, servant of Joseph Bell, punished for raising a riot in the court yard.

20 May 1777
Mathew Wilson, recommended Captain; John Boyd, recommended Lieutenant; Samuel Weir, recommend Ensign;Michael Coger, recommend Captain, vice Capt. William Nalle, resigned; Samuel Vance, recommended Captain; Jacob Warwick, recommend Lieutenant; John Boyd, recommended Ensign.

21 May 1778
Jacob Warwick as First Lieutenant, David Gwinn as Second Lieutenant, Jonathan Humphreys as Ensign - recommended for appointment in Capt. Samuel Vance's Company.

16 March 1779
Joseph Crouch as Catain, Jacob Warwick and Slexander Maxwell as First Lieutenants, qualified.

15 February 1780
John Kinkead allowed certificate for 50 acres for services as a soldier in Capt. Wm Preston's Company of Rangers. major Andrew lock ridge, guardian of orphan of Robert Graham, deceased, is allowed certificate for land for Graham's services as a soldier in Capt. preston's Company, 1758. Following allowed certificates for land for military services: John Kinkead, Thomas Hicklin, Robert Gwin, Lofftus Pullin, William Black, patrick Miller, William Jackson, in Capt. Wm. preston's Company of Rangers, 1758. Wm. Kinkead, Thoms Kinkead, John Montgomery, of Capt. Lewis's Company, Boquet's Expedition, 1764. Thomas Smith, eldest son and heir-at-law of Thos. Smith, who served as a soldier in Capt. Dunlop's Company of Rangers, 1758, and also as proper heir-at-law of Wm. Elliot, who served also, granted certificates for land. Andrew McCaslin, James Gay, Anthony Johnston, appointed Constables. (?) Gay to be summoned to show cause why he doth not use his apprentice, John Harris, according to law.

14 March 1780
John Warwick allowed 50 acres for services as soldier in Boquet's Expedition in 1764. Samuel Erwin, of Capt. Hog's Company, 1757, allowed 50 acres. Robert Stuart, of Capt. Dickenson's Company, 1758, allowed 50 acres. John Blair, of Capt. Hog's Company, 1758, allowed 50 acres. John Kinkead appointed road surveyor from Wm. Black's to Joseph Givin's.

21 August 1781
Barnette Lance appointed road surveyor, vice john Gum. John Hogshead appointed road surveyor, vice John Kirk. Administer of estate of John Hogshead granted to An Hogshead. William Tate qualified Captain. Charles Cameron recommend Colonel of 2d Battalion, vice Colonel Hughart, resigned. Samuel VAnce recommended Colonel, vice John McCreery, who had resigned. William Jordain exempted from levies. Thomas Hicklin recommended Captain of the Company he formerly commanded; James Bratton in room of Capt. Kinkead, resigned; Joseph Gwin as First Lieutenant in Capt. Hicklin's Company; Joseph Day as Ensign in Capt. Poage's Company. John McKittrick was appointed Ensign in the room of Ensign Gardner of Capt. Trimble's Company, resigned. Thomas Bratton and James Hicklin qualified Captains.

21 May 1784
Hugh Gwin exempted from pole tax and levies on account of age and infirmities.

March, 1786
Ann Warwick, infant, by John Warwick, her next friend, vs. Mary Moor, daughter of Levy Moor. Case Writ, 19 July 1781.

April, 1793
We, the undersigned jurors for the Commonwealth of Virginia, present that Alex. Sproul did, on the 18th day of January let, in the county aforesaid, unlawfully make a forcible entry into the house and possession of George Almarode, with arms, of which he was then possessed, and does continue to keep out the said Almarode, to his hurt and damage. In witness whereof the under named jurors have hereunto set their hands and seals this 13th day of February 1792. (Signed) Francis Hull, John Summers, Robt. Morris, Robert Cooper, Samuel McCutchan, Andrew Donaldson, Thomas Boyd, John McCoskry, David Humphreys, James Cunningham, George Everts, Jacob Wehrly, John Cunningham, Robert Hanna, John McCutchan, Henry Venus, Ro. Tate, Hugh Dougherty, Henry Minger, William McCutchan, John Foulwidder, John Logan, Mexard Berryhill, James Henry.

September, 1802 (A to G)
Court of Rockbridge vs. Steel. - List of delinquents in county levy with the District of Hawkins Windell, Commissioner, for the year 1796: Lasty F. Ayten, Frecnhbroad; Eden Bales, Kentucky; James Bales, Kentucky; James Buckerage, Cumberland; John Cowan, Cumerland; James Curry, removed; John Collins, Holsteen; John Duff, Tennessee; Samuel Aires, Bath county; Mark Biggs, runaway; John Brown, Botetourt; Caleb Beggs, Botetourt; Jacob Collier, Pennsylvania; Samuel Corwen, Botetourt; James Caul, removed; Jesse Dolter, Augusta; Adma Dickey, dead; George Gabbert, Greenbrier; Cutlip Gannert, Augusta; James Henton, Rockingham' John Hamilton, Kentucky; Joseph Hanmin, Botetourt; James McGill, Roanoke; Jacob Oyler, Botetourt; George Rule, Botetourt; Joseph Snodgrass and Benjamin Snodgrass, Kentucky; Henry Standoff, Bath county; Anthony Watson, Tennessee; John Miller (shoemaker), runaway; Humphrey Ellis, Botetourt; Armstrong Ellis, Botetourt; william Gill, Botecourt; Jean Henry, Clinch; David Henry, Pennsylvania; John Jinkins, runaway; Mark Morris, Jr., Roanoke (Botetourt; Wm. Reid, runaway; James Sewell, Kentucky; Wm. Stuart, removed; Nicholas Lusong, Tennessee; John Varner, Botetourt; Jacob Way, runaway; Robert Shields, Tennessee.   |  View or Add Comments (0 Comments)   |   Receive updates ( subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

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