Re History of Mercer County – Jeremiah and Mary migrated from Fauquier County to Giles County and lived on Doe Creek at the top of the mountain. His will is recorded in Giles County.
1810 and 1820 Giles Co Census
Jeremiah received a land grant in 1783 of 100 acres on the north side of Doe Creek as assignee of Michael Drake. Doe Creek is close to Pembroke and is a creek that comes from the present Mountain Lake Resort. Later he received an addition grant of 35 and 60 acres in the same area. The Montgomery County 1788-1799 Personal Property Tax, lists Jeremiah with 6 horses and no slaves.
His will dated May 7, 1819 was not proven until March 30, 1824, leaves 1/3 of his estate to his wife Mary during her natural life.
To my son Adram (Abraham) $1.00
To my son Joh $1.00
To my son David Williams $1.00
To my son in law Randal Lucas $1.00
To my son in law John Rice $1.00
To my son Alexander Williams widow Lisha $1.00
To my son Andrew a tract of land joining the land of Joseph Williamns, Jacob Albert, Christian Smith, Randall Lucas and David Collins.
To my son Joseph a tract of land joining the land of Randal Lucas, Collins corner and Alberts corner
To my sons Hugh and James all the rest of my land.
To Margaret and Rebecca, my daughrers, all my personal property, household furniture and kitchen furniture except a horse to James Williams, my son.
“The first member of the Williams family who can be documented in North America is Jeremiah Williams. Information about Jeremiah’s early life, however, is disputed. Some researchers maintain that he was born in England; other sources identify him as the Jeremiah Williams born in Wales in 1750 to William Williams and Ann Jones. The 1750 birth date does seem consistent with our Jeremiah’s age, as indicated by the ages of his children. However, no definite proof regarding his birthplace or his parentage has been discovered.
One reason for believing that Jeremiah might have been born in England or Wales is that immigration from those countries to Virginia is consistent with settlement patterns at the time Jeremiah and his family first appear in the records for what became Giles County. (At the time, it was still part of Montgomery County.) According to the book “Giles County, VA, History–Families,” most of the early white settlers in that area came there from Pennsylvania, where their parents had landed as immigrants. These settlers traveled along an Indian trail known as the Great Wagon Road, settling on land along the New River.
The first record of Jeremiah’s existence is a. He later received grants of 35 and 60 acres in the same area. These land grants indicate that Jeremiah was prospering, as do the Montgomery County Personal Property Tax Lists for 1788 and 1789. According to these lists, Jeremiah owned six horses and no slaves. By 1791, Montgomery County Survey Book D recorded 46 acres “on the west side of land he now lives on” for Jeremiah.
In addition to acquiring land, Jeremiah was acquiring a large family. His marriage to Mary Garst took place before 1770, although a precise date has not been located. Several Williams family researchers have recounted the story of Mary’s birth: She was the daughter of German immigrants and was born during their voyage to America. It is said that her parents made a cradle for her from the oven of the ship’s stove. No documentation regarding the truth of the story, or who Mary’s parents were, has been discovered.
Mary and Jeremiah had twelve children-eight boys and four girls. The eldest son, Hugh, was born in 1770. Daughter Patience was born in 1772. Abram and David were born in 1775 and 1776, respectively. Molly was born in 1779, followed by John Stafford in 1780. Alexander was born in 1782, and Joseph was born in 1784. The exact year of Andrew’s birth is unknown, although he is believed to have been born between 1787 and 1789. James A. Williams was born in 1792; there is no record of what the “A” stood for. Margaret was born in 1794, followed by Rebecca in 1796.” Resources:Nyla Creed DePauk. Descendants of Jeremiah and Mary (Garst) Williams. (http://www./raleigh/BOOK/WilliamsJeremiahNyla.pdf).
Giles County Historical Society (Virginia). Research Committee. Giles County, Virginia, history – families. (The Society, c1982), 1982.
“Jeremiah Williams, the Elder, settled on Doe Creek in the part of Montgomery County, Virginia, that in 1806 became Giles County, Virginia. His date and place of birth and the names of his parents have not been proven; however, he could possibly have been born about 1750. We do know that he died before May 1824 in Giles County. He married Mary Garst about 1770. She was born about 1750 on a vessel sailing to America, according to tradition. Mary most likely died in Giles County.
The following information on Jeremiah Williams was given to me by Mary Anne Williams of 7 Cedar Hill Road, West Simsbury, CT 06092. * Jeremiah Williams received a land grant in, 1783, of 100 acres on the north side of Doe Creek as assignee of Michael Drake. Later, he received additional grants of 35 and 60 acres in the same area. Montgomery County 1788 and 1789 Personal Property Tax Lists shows Jeremiah with six horses and no slaves. In 1791, 46 acres “on the westside
of land he now lives on” were recorded in the Montgomery Co. Survey Book “D” for Jeremiah. Jeremiah Williams’ will is dated May 7, 1819, but was not proven until March 30, 1824.
Jeremiah Williams: Montgomery County Land Grants
Source: Virginia Land Office Patent and Grants, Library of Virginia (http://www.lva.virgin ia.gov), accessed 07 Aug 2012, transcribed by J.P. Williams. P. 509 (1793)
Jeremiah Williams
100 acres
Montgomery County
Henry Lee Esquire, Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, To all to whom these presents shall come, Greeting: Know ye that by virtue of a Land Office Treasury Warrant Number thirteen thousand two hundred and fifty nine, Issued the third day of August one thousand seven hundred and eighty two, There is granted by the said Commonwealth unto Jeremiah Williams assignee of Michael Drake acertain [sic] tract or parcel of Land, containing one hundred acres by survey bearing the Date the thirtieth day of December one thousand seven hundred and eighty six, lying and being in the County of Montgomery on the North side of doe [sic] Creek and bounded as follows, To wit, Beginning At awalnut [sic] and [illegible] on a hill by abranch [sic] thence South sixty eight poles crossing said Branch to two chesnut oaks by the branch North seventy degrees East eighty six poles crossing said branch to three chesnut oak saplings on a hill thence North eighty two degrees East one hundred and fourteen poles to two chesnuts on ahill [sic] side, North thirty degrees West one hundred poles to awhite [sic] Walnut and ash on ahill [sic] side, West one hundred and sixteen poles crossing abranch [sic] to ablack [sic] oak and chesnut oak, on ahill [sic] and thence South seventeen degrees West sixty four poles to the Beginning With its Appurtenances; To have and to hold the said tract or parcel of Land with its Appurtenances to the said Jeremiah Williams and his heirs forever In Witness whereof the said Henry Lee Esquire, Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, hath hereunto set his hand, and Caused the [illegible] Seal of the said Commonwealth to be affixed at Richmond on the Sixteenth day of February in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and ninety three and of the Commonwealth the Seventeenth
Henry Lee
P. 509 (1793)
Jeremiah Williams
46 acres
Montgomery
Henry Lee Esquire, Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, To all to whom these presents shall come, Greeting: Know ye, that by virtue of part of a Land Office Treasury Warrant Number fifteen thousand and forty Issued the twenty fourth day of December, one thousand-seven-hundred and eighty two, There is granted by the said Common -wealth unto Jeremiah Williams acertain Tract or parcel of Land, containing forty six acres, by survey bearing Date the twenty sixty day of February one thousand seven-hundred and ninety one, lying and being in the county of Montgomery on the West side of the land he now lives on, and bounded as followeth, to wit, Beginning At two chestnut oak saplings on ahill [sic] corner to his own survey and with aline [sic] of the same, South seventy degrees West eighty eight poles to two chestnut oaks North sixty eight poles crossing a small branch to aWalnut [sic] and [illegible] on the South side of ahill [sic] eighty five degrees
P. 510
West forty eight poles to a white oak and black oak on the South side of ahill [sic], South twelve degrees West sixty eight poles to two chesnuts and white oak, South sixty four degrees East one hundred and ten poles crossing abranch [sic] to three white oaks, North thirty one degrees East eighty five poles to the Beginning With its Appurtenances; To have and to hold the said Tract or parcel of Land with its Appurtenances to the said Jeremiah Williams and his heirs forever. In Witness where of the said Henry Lee Esquire, Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, hath hereunto set his hand, and caused the [illegible] Seal of the said Commonwealth to be affixed at Richmond, on the Sixteenth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety three, and of the Commonwealth the Seventeenth
Henry Lee
P. 378 (1809)
J. Williams
60 acres
Montgomery
Examined John Tyler Esquire, Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, To all to whom these presents shall come Greeting: Know ye, that by virtue of
P. 379
of a Land Office Treasury warrant number Seventeen thousand seven hundred and nine issued the twenty first day of July Seventeen hundred and eighty three there is granted by the said Commonwealth, unto Jeremiah Williams a certain tract or parcel of land, containing sixty acres by survey bearing date fourteenth day of August, one thousand eight hundred and five, lying and being in the county of Montgomery on the north side of Doe creek [sic], the waters of New River, and bounded as followeth, to wit: Beginning at two sugar trees south sixty four poles to a white oak on a line of Smiths land: South, twenty one degrees, east twenty one poles to a white oak, and red oak: north forty eight degrees east one hundred and sixteen poles to a white oak and chesnut on a hill side: north fifty two degrees east thirty four poles to three chesnut stumps corner to his own land: north nine degrees west sixty four poles to a buckeye and spanish [sic] oak on a hill side: north nineteen degrees west fifty two poles to two sugar trees on a hill side: south sixty degrees west thirty four poles to two sugar trees on a line of his own land: South twenty nine degrees east one hundred and two poles. –
South
P. 380
south seventy four degrees west one hundred and ninety four poles to the beginning; with its appurtenances; To Have and to hold the said tract or parcel of land with its appurtenances; to the said Jeremiah Williams and his heirs forever. In Witness Whereof the said John Tyler esquire, governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, hath hereunto set his hand and caused the [illegible] Seal of the said Commonwealth to be affixed at Richmond, on the twelfth day of July, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred & nine, & of the Commonwealth the thirty-fourth.
Jn. Tyler
P. 342 (1821)
Jeremiah Williams
35 acres
Giles
Thomas M. Randolph, Esq. Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia: To all to whom these presents shall come Greeting: Know ye that in Conformity with a Survey made on the Sixth day of September 1819; by virtue of a Land Office Treasury warrant Number 5501 issued the 7th November 1815; there is granted by the said Commonwealth unto Jeremiah Williams A certain tract or parcel of Land Containing Thirty five acres Situate in the County of Giles on the waters of Doe Creek a branch of Newriver [sic] and on the South side of the Doe mountain and bounded as followeth towit: beginning at a red oak and hickory on the side of the mountain corner to said Williams’s [sic] land and running thence North Seventy two degrees West seventy four poles crossing a hollow to a white oak and chesnut oak on to [illegible-looks like “spur”], South sixty eight degrees West twenty eight poles to two chesnut oaks on the side of the mountain, South twelve degrees West thirty four poles to a white oak and red oak South seventy five degrees East sixty six poles to a black walnut near a branch and down it South fourteen degrees East thirty five
P. 343
five poles to a walnut, thence crossing the branch South eighty six degrees East fourteen poles to a walnut and [illegible] corner to said Williams, thence with the same North seventeen degrees East seventy four poles to the Beginning. To have and to hold the said tract or parcel of Land with its appurtenances to the said Jeremiah Williams and his heirs forever.
In witness whereof, the said Thomas M. Randolph Esq. Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, hath hereunto set his hand, and caused the lesser Seal of the said Commonwealth to be Affixed at Richmond on the first day of September in the year of the Lord One thousand eight hundred and twenty one and of the Commonwealth the forty sixth.
Th. M. Randolph
http://www.saponitown.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-764.html
Montgomery Co Land Tax Records 1782-1927 Reel 197