A Hughes Family Narrative
THREE GENERATIONS OF THE HUGHES FAMILY: ORLANDO, LEANDER and ARCHELAUS, PAGE FOUR
BY Becky M. and Larry D. Christiansen
All material copyright 2004 Henry H. George

However, due to the Revolutionary War there was a delay and some changing of the plans. Finally, on March 26, 1779, after looking at the county's ability to pay, the court decided the courthouse could wait and ordered two men to let out the contract for the 'prison, stocks and pillary.' The prison was reduced from the initial 20 feet by 16 feet to 16 feet by 12 feet structure of two stories. The building was to be built of 12-inch square logs with the upper and lower floors made of the same sized logs. There was to be a brick or stone inside chimney providing a fireplace in each room, windows with iron grates and double door with substantial locks. For the court John Barksdale, who operated an inn and tavern near where the court had decided to establish the county seat, was ordered to provide a room for the county court to be held until a courthouse could be built. Barksdale was directed to bring his claim for providing facilities for the court at the 'laying of the next County Levy.' The gentleman justice who signed the Order Book for the court on March 26th was 'A. Hughes.' Seven months later on October 28, 1779, the court directed three of its justices to view the prison that had been built for the county by John Barksdale and make a report whether the same was 'agreeable to bargin' [bargain]. The three men inspected the new jail that same day and reported back to the court that it was done agreeable to the contract with the builder. However, Sheriff John Salmon came into the court at this time and objected 'to the insufficiency of the prison.' This would be someone else's problem within four months-namely Archelaus Hughes-in a direct way. In the meantime the county court finally had an established place to meet even before the courthouse was established. For gentleman justice Archelaus Hughes the distance to the new place for the county court was a little farther than the temporary quarters at John Rowland's place. The latter was approximately 15 miles from the Hughes home while the new place was a little over 13 miles due north and about 5 miles east. Both were much closer than the previous courthouse location for Pittsylvania County.

In the meantime Archelaus Hughes was assigned another task within the administration of the county's affairs. Justice Edmund Lyne resigned the post of Commissioner of the Taxes and on October 19, 1778, and Archelaus Hughes, also a justice of the court, was appointed to this position. He served until the following March 26th when not one man but three were appointed Commissioners of the Taxes. In important positions such as justices of the court and sheriff, the county court recommended names to the governor who chose from those recommended and made the appointments. Earlier on September 22, 1778, the county court recommended three names for consideration as sheriff- Archelaus Hughes, Robert Hairston and John Salmon. The governor chose Salmon, the first sheriff of Henry County, to continue in office for another term. Now on August 27, 1779, the county court again recommended three names to the governor for consideration as sheriff-Archelaus Hughes, Robert Hairston and Abraham Penn. While he waited to see whom the governor would select this time, Archelaus Hughes was busy with two other assignments.

On the same day he was recommended to the governor for the position of sheriff, he was also recommended for another post. The county court recommended that Archelaus Hughes, Patrick Henry, Hugh Innes, Robert Hairston, Edmund Lyne, Abraham Penn, John Salmon and several others to serve on the 'Commission of the Peace.' Nothing further was stated in the public records about this commission, but they functioned on the county level as a body of lower court justices serving much like justices of the peace. Those chosen to this commission were some of the most respected men in the county; frequently they were former gentlemen justices of the county court. Also more justices were appointed than were required to sit on the court, allowing it to continue when some of them were absent. It was regarded as a high honor to be appointed to the Commission of the Peace. The same functioned in North Carolina, and the following is taken from the North Carolina Colonial Records: 'Then the Commission of the peace was read . . .[two named men] Severally take and subscribe to the oaths by law appointed and the oath for executing the office of a justice of peace.' They had no connections with reconciliation attempts between the former colonies and the Mother County. The only other reference to this appointment came two and one-half years later in February of 1782 when Archelaus Hughes, after serving as Henry County?s second sheriff, was accorded this accolade -'Archelaus Hughes, one of the Gentlemen named to the Commission of the Peace.' The second responsible assignment dealt with the church lands within Henry County. The war with England also produced a problem concerning the established church in Virginia. Back in 1767 when Camden Parish was created along with Pittsylvania County, the vestrymen assigned to the parish said they felt 'comfortable' with the doctrine and discipline of the Church of England. War had taken away that comfort. Ministers ordained in the Anglican Church were required to take the "Oath of Allegiance and Supremacy" to the King of England, declaring him the Church's supreme ruler. The rituals of both morning and evening services in Virginia included a prayer for the health of the King and his family. When public opinion in Virginia came to view loyalty to the crown as treasonous, the Anglican Church was placed in an awkward position. Then there were tax moneys collected by the state and counties that went to support the church. In 1776 the Virginia House of Delegates suspended tax support for the Anglican Church, and the General Assembly passed legislation suspending the payment of tithes by non-Anglicans in Virginia. The curriculum and mission of the College of William and Mary were altered to break the connection with the Church of England. At the county level local actions were taken against the Church of England's large land holdings. In October of 1779 the counties of Pittsylvania and Henry formed a committee of two men from each county to deal with church land holdings. William Todd, William Witcher, Abraham Penn and Archelaus Hughes were called 'Commissioners in Trust' to dispose of the parish's land holdings per an act of the General Assembly passed in October of 1778. The four commissioners sold 588 acres of land held as a 'glebe' by the Camden Parish to a man from Halifax County for 5150 pounds of current money. With these final economic setbacks, the Anglican Church almost disappeared entirely from Pittysylvania County and the counties to the west.

Thomas Jefferson, the second governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, selected and appointed Archelaus Hughes as the second sheriff of Henry County. On February 24, 1780, Archealus appeared before the Henry County court where he had served as a justice for three years. He produced his commission appointing him sheriff of the county. Bonds and securities by William Tunstall, Abraham Penn, Mordecai Hord and George Hairston were posted to guarantee his performance as sheriff and in collecting the present county taxes. Then on a motion by the new sheriff, George Hairston was admitted as an 'under sheriff,' and a short time later by another motion of the sheriff, William Ryan was admitted as another under sheriff 'to collect his old arrears.' Since Sheriff Hughes was just taking office, the 'old arrears' probably meant county arrears uncollected by the previous sheriff. With the business of installing the new sheriff and the staffing of his office, Sheriff Hughes appeared before the county court and objected to the 'sufficiency' of the newly built prison in much the same way as the previous sheriff had complained back in October when the prison was accepted as finished by the court. Immediately the court assigned two men to let the repairs of the prison to the lowest bidder. Whatever the problems with the jail, it had finally been decided to fix it, but that process was almost continual fixing over several years. Because he was now sheriff, Archelaus Hughes no longer served on the county court. The court established a tradition of appointing one of its members to be sheriff for a term and followed by another member of the court. This practice continued for many years in at least Henry and Patrick counties. Apparently the term of office for sheriff had been expanded to two years for Sheriff Hughes served that length of time with no reappointment. The annual salary was increased from 1248 pounds of tobacco per year to 2000 pounds. He also received additional payment for attending called courts usually at the rate of 200 pounds of tobacco per session, and the county clerk received a similar extra stipend. In his early weeks he was also paid 150 pounds of tobacco for repairing of handcuffs, probably the ones Sheriff Salmon had procured in 1777.

As sheriff he was responsible to maintain law and order in Henry County, arresting the violators and bringing them before the court and holding those ordered for incarceration in the county jail. He was involved in the summoning of witnesses, selection of jury members and maintaining order in the court. Another important aspect of his position was to collect the tax for the county. The Tax List of Henry County, Virginia for 1778 - 1780 contained the notation that the tax list for the 'County of Henry for raising a supply of money for the Service of the United States' was delivered to 'Archelaus Hughes, Esq., Sheriff of the said county to collect, due the 20th day of February 1780.' Then followed the list of taxable people, and after the taxes were collected, Sheriff Hughes reported to the tax commissioners. Apparently much of the tax moneys or tobacco was turned over to the commissioners, but some remained in the hands of the sheriff for expenses he paid directly. In this latter category were the bounties paid on predators. Within the first three months of being in officer, Sheriff Hughes paid out 400 pounds of tobacco for the heads of wolves. He also paid for most of the construction of the courthouse and other county facilities finished during his term as sheriff. On March 23rd court day, the Henry County Court ordered Sheriff Hughes to take into his possession the paper money taken from Veazey Husbands. The money was considered counterfeit and the sheriff was instructed to write 'forged' on the face of each bill and then store the bad money in the clerk's office. On the same day a man came into court and 'made oath' naming five men intent to 'beat, wound, main or kill him.' After hearing the man's charges and story, the court ordered Sheriff Hughes to place the five men in custody until they gave security for their future good behavior.

During his second month as sheriff, some important changes took place in the Henry County militia. William Tunstall resigned his office as County Lieutenant, an important post in the county militia. This created a reshuffling of the militia staff. Back in January of 1777 Captain Archelaus Hughes was selected to replace the outgoing colonel of the Henry County militia. His official commission of colonel was received on March 17, 1777, and from that date he was the highest ranking officer in the county. With the resignation of William Tunstall, Colonel Archelaus Hughes was assigned be to the County Lieutenant on March 23, 1780, with Lieutenant Colonel Abraham Penn advanced to the office of colonel and Major James Lyons to the rank of lieutenant colonel. Archelaus still held the rank of colonel but as county lieutenant his role and function changed. He was the officer responsible to determine if the Henry militia could go outside their county boundaries, and he was over the training of the militia and ensured they were equipped. The position as county lieutenant was a great honor, but it involved much work. It was no easy task to get all the farmers, young men and others to be prepared for any emergency at a moment's notice. The militia was to arm themselves, but the training was the responsibility of the leaders. The men usually met on 'court days' when much of the populace came to the location where court was held for a variety or reasons, ranging from business before the court, or for the news, exchange of information and goods that occurred there on court days. When the Revolutionary War first began, the ardor of the men produced good attendance at their drilling sessions, but as the war dragged on with little apparently happening in their area, that eagerness faded. It took much time in planning and following through to make the county militia function properly. On July 29, 1780, Archelaus Hughes came to the county court and resigned his office as County Lieutentant after only four months in the position. The court recommended to the governor that Colonel Abraham Penn fill the position, and in time he was so appointed (Col. Penn was both the commanding officer and county lieutenant). Apparently this ended Archelaus?s connection with the Virginia militia although he was only 37 years old. He was not included in Colonel Penn's muster roll of the Henry militia at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse.

The reasons for Archelaus Hughes' resignation can only be guessed at. Probably it took too much of his time since he was also sheriff and served on the Henry County Committee of Safety plus had a plantation and stores to attend to with a large and growing family. Perhaps some incident or series of events not known sparked his actions. Possibly an incident before the court on the same day played some part in his decision. Later in the day after his resignation the court heard a complaint that involved the sheriff. Afterwards the court 'ordered that William Tunstall, Grymes Halcomb, Baldwin Rowland, John Redd, George Rowland, Sr. and Archelaus Hughes be summoned at the next court to answer the information lodged against them for unlawfully gaming.' The men so ordered did not appear at the next court nor was there any disposition of innocence or guilt at any forthcoming court. In the court records the order of July 23, 1780, was the only mention. The accuser could have withdrawn his accusation, but if so, the court should have placed that on the records. Perhaps the court with two very prominent former justices of the court and present sheriff implicated resolved the affair in a secret, closed session. Thus, we have no insight on what 'unlawfully gaming' involved or what and how the issue was resolved, or if it was a factor in his resignation from the militia.

In March of 1780 the county court finally appointed three men to let the building of the Henry County courthouse to the lowest bidder. The specifications were as follows: the building was to be 24 feet by 20 feet with two stories constructed of hewed logs on the inside with a height of nine feet from floor to ceiling. It was to have a shingled roof and possess two windows on the bottom floor and one on the second floor with all to have shutters. Both floors would be of plank with a pair of stairs leading to the second story. There would be an attorney's bar and seats with a proper bench for the justices to sit and 'a box for the Sheriff.' The box for the sheriff was not just a wooden box for the sheriff to sit upon but an area set aside for him much like a jury box. As almost an afterthought, a table for the court clerk was included, measuring four feet long and three feet wide with a drawer. Later in 1780 the courthouse was completed and now the court could abandon the room provided in Barksdale's inn or tavern. Sad to say but this courthouse and prison facility was only used through April of 1787. In 1786 Franklin County was created, taking a piece of northern Henry County away. It was then judged that the center of the newly realigned Henry County was near the old Fort Mayo location and where Colonel Abraham Penn was living (near the present day Henry and Patrick County lines and U.S. Highway 58). The first court session was held at Colonel Penn's home in April of 1787 and thereafter in a nearby building a short distance down the North Mayo River. This placed the court approximately five miles from Archelaus Hughes' home for the four- year period of 1787 to 1791 until Patrick County was formed.

In 1780 Sheriff Hughes had cases involving the theft of horses, cattle and pigs. On May 25th he led Hezekiah Salmon before the bar accused of feloniously taking a horse in North Carolina. The court examined the witnesses and accepted Salmon's plea of not guilty and discharged him. A month later on June 24th the court held for examination David Bigwaters on suspicion of feloniously stealing a horse from a county citizen. Bigwaters stated he was not guilty, but after examining the witnesses, the court expressed the opinion that he was guilty. Therefore, the court ruled Bigwaters ought to receive a further trial before the General Court and remanded him to the custody of Sheriff Hughes. On the same date Sheriff Hughes led to the bar David Haley on charges of a felony not specified. Haley declared his innocence and the court heard the witnesses and delivered the opinion that he was not guilty and discharged him. Then on September 28, 1780, David Haley was back in court on another suspicion of committing a felony. Haley again proclaimed his innocence and the court examined the witnesses. This time the court declared he was guilty, and then Haley threw himself on the mercy of the court. The court ordered Sheriff Hughes to take Haley to the Public Whipping Post and apply twenty lashes on his bare back. On December 28, 1780, there was another case of horse stealing. In the usual procedure in the courtroom, Sheriff Hughes led Stephen Garrison to the bar where he was accused of stealing a horse. Garrison pleaded not guilty and the court examined the witnesses and delivered an opinion that he was guilty and ought to receive a further trial before the General Court. To ensure the further case against Garrison, two witnesses-Benjamin Stinnett and Jesse Corn-each bonded themselves to the sum of 5,000 pounds of tobacco on the condition that they would appear in General Court and give testimony against Garrison. In March of 1781 Sheriff Hughes received 400 pounds of tobacco for calling two courts on Stephen Garrison. On some of the horse stealing cases there was apparently few, if any, witnesses in the court to substantiate the charges; therefore, in the case going to the General Court, it followed the policy of guaranteeing witnesses by bonding them.

During the year 1780, Sheriff Hughes collected in taxes 22,486 pounds of tobacco, and he received in payment for this 1,349 pounds of tobacco on a payment schedule dated March 23, 1781. On July 26th Abraham Cristman appeared before the county court agreeable to his recognizance taken before two justices earlier. Cristman was charged with suspicion of being 'inimical to the rights and liberties of America.' Cristman was tried before a twelve-man jury, which found the defendant guilty as charged. The court fined Cristman 2,000 pounds of current money and four months imprisonment. The court further ordered that Sheriff Hughes summons James Baker to appear before the next court to answer a complaint lodged against him of being 'inimical to the rights and liberties of America.' The sheriff was also to summons three men as witnesses against Baker. The cases of loyalty had progressed from being against the 'common cause' of 1777 to opposition to the rights and liberties of America.

In July of 1781 Sheriff Hughes paid out one of his last bounties on a wolf as he gave fifty pounds of tobacco for a young wolf head. The claimed bounties for wolves were down from the previous four years, possibly this was a reflection of the increasing population in the western portion of the county with the wolf numbers down from being driven out and killed. In the same month Sheriff Hughes led John Holliday to the bar of the court on suspicion of 'begoring a cow.' The defendant declared his innocence and the court examined the witnesses and declared Holliday not guilty and discharged him. In November of 1781 Sheriff Hughes was involved in a case in which a man brought charges of threats and disturbing the peace against Michael Kelly. The defendant appeared before the court on his recognizance taken before Justice Robert Hairston. After hearing the case, the court gave as its opinion that Kelly had to give security for his good behavior. Kelly?s bond was 20,000 pounds current money and his two securities each the same amount. The condition placed on Kelly was that he exhibit good behavior for a year and a day especially toward the man who charged him. On November 22, 1781, the court ordered Sheriff Hughes to take Nathaniel Scales into custody until he gave security for his behavior towards Jean Nichols and his appearance at the next court. On the same date Sheriff Hughes led Thomas Livesay and John Livesay to the bar of the court on suspicion of counterfeiting both Virginia and the United States currency. But no prosecutor appeared so the Livesays were discharged due to a malfunction of judicial process.

On July 26, 1781, the Henry County Court recommended three names to the Governor for consideration for the next sheriff of the county and the Governor chose Robert Hairston. After two active years as sheriff of Henry County, in February of 1782 Sheriff Hughes left office and was replaced by Robert Hairston as the sheriff of Henry County. For Sheriff Hairston's time in office, Archelaus Hughes, George Hairston, Peter Hairston and John Marr gave their securities for his bond. By now Archelaus? financial position was well established, and he was frequently posting and securing bonds, especially for public service. On February 28, 1782, the court recorded the following: 'Archelaus Hughes, one of the Gentlemen named in the Commission of the Peace, took the oath to the Commonwealth, the oath of a Justice of Peace, the oath of Justice in Chancery and the oath of a Justice of Oyer and Terminer.' The court was rewarding a citizen for his past service with some praise and bestowing on him some positions whether honorary or active positions on another level for justice in certain cases. Besides the titles he was given, there have been found no records to describe what Justice Hughes did in these positions. The Chancery and Oyer and Terminer could have been positions of a larger area or district than Henry County. These judicial positions were carryovers of the English law and became part of the Virginia judiciary. As a Justice of Chancery he could have functioned under a Court of Chancery which was basically a court of equity which had developed over time and precedent to provide legal remedies not obtainable under the normal court of common law. The Oyer and Terminer terms came from the Anglo-French names meaning 'to hear and determine.' During the English period the justice or commission of this type traveled the countryside (usually a county) and meted out justice never clearly specified but based primarily on English precedent. In the end we are at a loss as to what the positions entailed or what Archelaus did in this capacity.

In the Revolutionary War there were no battles in Henry County (which included the area that is now Patrick County), but there were several incidents with British Tories in the western section that now is Patrick County. Many of the Tories or Loyalists in the isolated western areas had little or no complaint about British oppression as they did not drink British tea or buy goods from England and thus saw little need of independence. Some of these Tories joined the British forces and raided the patriot areas where they robbed, burned and killed a few of the people. In an attempt to stop this depredation, the local militia found it necessary to send troops into the western section. They established a few garrisons along the western frontier and patrolled the affected area. This also helped protect the sources of two vital materials located in southwestern Virginia. The lead mines on the New River in present day Wythe County produced most of the lead used in the guns of the Continental armies, and the salt wells at Saltville, in present Washington County, produced most of the salt to preserve meat. In the fall of 1780 Colonel Abraham Penn marched with the Henry County militia to the Yadkin River in North Carolina where they captured over ninety Tories and returned with them to the Henry County jail. The eventual fate of these POWs and much of the service of the militia units is at best sketchy due to the scarcity of Henry County records on the war efforts. In May of 1780 Henry County received a call to furnish 180 men to march to Hillsborough, North Carolina, to assist General Horatio Gates. The company of men went but even with them General Gates, commander of the Southern Continental Army, could not successfully contend with the British forces and he suffered a defeat. General Gates was replaced by General Nathaniel Greene and the Henry County company returned home. The following year in March of 1781 another call for Henry County militia came to assist General Greene. Twenty-one small companies left Henry County in early March and joined General Greene to participate in the Battle of Guilford Courthouse fought on March 15th. Most of the Henry County militia served under General Greene for a month and then returned home.

While Archelaus Hughes did not participate directly with the militia since his resignation in late July of 1780, he because involved in another way. We do know that Virginia troops used the Carolina Road that ran by Hughesville in going to and from the war in North Carolina and South Carolina, and they were most likely fed and treated well at the plantation. Henry County militia and others escorted prisoners of war captured in North Carolina to prisons at Bedford and Winchester, Virginia. Family tradition recalls prisoners taken at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse specifically passing Hughesville in late March of 1781. These prisoners were identified as Hessians, the foreign mercenaries recruited into the British Army, and they spent one night at Hugheville secured in granaries and other outbuildings. A slightly different version of this story was provided by Hallie McCable Price, a great granddaughter of Archelaus with close personal ties to Hughesville. Mrs. Price wrote about her ancestor for the DAR as follows: 'While Col. Archelaus Hughes was serving at the Battle of Guilford Court House late one afternoon he came home bringing two aides and a dozen Red Coat soldiers. They spent the night at Hughesville and in the early dawn they rode off to the East. It was thought that he was taking the Red Coats somewhere to Prison.' The problem with this account is its failure to know that Archelaus Hughes resigned his position in the Henry County Militia over seven months earlier. Thereafter, there is no evidence that he participated with the Henry militia in any manner, and he was not listed on Colonel Penn's muster roll of the men sent down to assist General Greene at Guilford. While he could still be called a colonel, he was not functioning in that capacity in 1781 and would not have aids assigned to him. Instead, he was the sheriff of Henry County. Still, the advance of General Cornwallis and his British army along with the Henry County militia being dispatched into North Carolina had caused deep concern for Virginians. Perhaps Sheriff Hughes rode south down the Carolina Road to check and see if there were any signs of what impact the contesting armies might have on his county and plantation. In the process he could well have encountered American soldiers escorting captured British soldiers moving northward. He could have invited the escorting soldiers to bring their prisoners to Hughesville to spend the night and be fed. In the morning he may have accompanied the party as they continued their travel. With many such Revolutionary War stories, there probably was a kernel of truth in the account, but enhanced, stretched and colored by later generations.

The Battle at Guilford Courthouse was the biggest and closest battle to Henry County, and although the American forces technically lost the fight, in the end they gained the most from the engagement. The failure of Lord Cornwallis to cross the Dan River and not destroy General Greene's army forced the British army to move eastward to Wilmington. Then they went up to the Chesapeake Bay area where Cornwallis was entrapped at Yorktown and forced to surrender his 8,000-man army in October of 1781. The war was not over on paper, but the fighting was basically over and the peace treaty officially signed in early September of 1783. In later years when the losing Battle of Guilford Courthouse began to be seen in a brighter light of accomplishment, it became like a magnate, attracting hosts of people claiming they were there or their ancestors were, whether they were or not.

During the war years and while serving as sheriff of Henry County, Archelaus obtained three land patents from the Land Office of the Virginia Commonwealth. The patents were done in the name of the second governor of Virginia, Thomas Jefferson. The first of these patents was issued on June 6, 1780, for 239 acres on the north fork of the Mayo River in Henry County. The other two came the following year involving tracts of 304 and 315 acres in the area closer to the home place at Hughesville. In all three patents Archelaus Hughes acted alone without his long time partner John Wimbish. The two 1781 patents are as follows:

Patent C page 243 - Feb. 1, 1781 for 304 acres:

Thomas Jefferson, Esquire Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia to all to whom these presents shall come Greetings. Know ye that in consideration of the ancient composition of Thirty Shillings sterling paid by Archelaus Hughes into the treasury of this Commonwealth there is granted by the said Commonwealth unto the said Archelaus Hughes a certain tract or parcel of land containing three hundred and four acres by survey bearing a date the third day of March one thousand seven hundred and eighty lying and being in the County of Henry on Green Creek and bounded as follows, to wit. Beginning at a Chesnut tree in Waltons order line thence new line North sixty degrees West twenty three poles to black oak North nineteen degrees West one hundred and fifty six poles crossing a branch to a Chesnut tree North twenty one degrees East one hundred and thirty four poles ---crossing a branch to pointers North seventy five degrees East one hundred ninety five poles crossing a branch to a pine South six degrees and east one hundred and twenty six poles crossing a branch to a Black oak South thirty three degrees East one hundred and ten poles to a white oak in Waltons line thence with it North fifty degrees West thirty seven poles crossing a branch to pointers South sixty three degrees West sixty five pole to a Spanish oak South thirteen degrees East one hundred and fifty poles crossing a branch to the first station with its appurtenances to have and to hold the said tract or parcel of land with its appurtenances to the said Archelaus Hughes and his heirs for ever. In witness whereof the said Thomas Jefferson Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia hath hereunto set his hand and caused the great seal of the said Commonwealth to be affixed at Richmond on the first day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand and eighty one and of the Commonwealth the fifth.
[signed] Thomas Jefferson

Patent D, page 545 - Feb. 1, 1781 for 315 acres:

Thomas Jefferson, Esquire Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia to all to whom these presents shall come Greeting: Know ye that in consideration of the ancient composition of thirty five Shilling sterling paid by Archelaus Hughes into the Treasury of this Commonwealth there is granted by the said Commonwealth unto the said Archelaus Hughes a certain tract or parcel of land containing three hundred and fifteen acres by survey bearing the date the fourteenth day of April one thousand seven hundred and eighty lying and being in the County of Henry on Mill Creek of Mayo River and bounded as followeth, to wit: Beginning at his own corner post Oak thence new line South seventy degrees East one hundred and five poles to a post oak in a Quarry of rocks South thirty two degrees East two hundred and eighty poles crossing a branch to a red oak South fifty eight degrees West two hundred poles crossing a creek and branch to his old line [ ? ] North fifteen degrees East one hundred and fifteen poles crossing said branch to a red oak West fifty four poles to a red oak North eighty two degrees West fifty four poles to pointers North two hundred and sixty four poles to the first station with its appurtenances: to have and to hold the said tract or parcel of land, with its appurtenances to the said Archelaus Hughes and his heirs forever. In witness whereof, the said Thomas Jefferson Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia hath hereunto set his hand and caused the great seal of the said Commonwealth to be affixed at Richmond on the first day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty one and of the Commonwealth the fifth.
[signed] Thomas Jefferson

From the 1770s and into the 1790s Archelaus Hughes was involved in many land transactions-both buying and selling. A few of these will be noted and commented upon. On August 24, 1775, Archelaus Hughes and John Wimbish purchased from James Roberts 200 acres of land on the south fork of Mayo River in Pittsylvania County. Roberts had bought the land from George Walton and Walton's line would be a reference point on other land transactions. The description of the tract of land had it south of the South Mayo River and the purchase price was 65 pounds. On November 11, 1773, John Rice sold to Archelaus Hughes and John Wimbish 180 acres on the north fork of the Mayo River for 25 pounds. On June 20, 1777, Archelaus Hughes and John Wimbish of Henry County sold 160 acres of land on both sides of Spoon Creek for 70 pounds to John Dickenson. Then on September 23, 1779, Abraham Hunter of Henry County sold to Archelaus Hughes 179 acres on the south side of Mayo River and the land description indicated this was on the south side of the South Mayo River. Interestingly this 179 acres sold for 1,200 pounds, an impressive fifteen times more than the best purchase price of the other land transactions cited above. It is difficult to account for this high price for this tract, not even exceptional bottomland previously cultivated explains it. It must have included other improvements, possibly buildings, and perhaps was connected to the core property previously purchased. Following this purchase Archelaus Hughes sold to Augustine Thomas 239 acres on the north fork of the Mayo River for 25 pounds on September 24, 1781. Probably this was the same tract he had obtained from the Virginia Commonwealth patent in which he paid twenty-five shillings sterling on June 6, 1780. On October 21, 1782, Archelaus Hughes and John Wimbish sold to John Pullim and John Randal 180 acres on the north fork of the Mayo River for 75 pounds.

Archelaus' partnership with John Wimbish started back in the late 1760s when the two gentlemen lived in Halifax and then Pittsylvania County. Wimbish became a member of the Pittsylvania County court and probably was older than Archelaus. He was Archelaus' first notable contact with connections and influence. Most of their known connections deal with the buying and selling of land, but it also involved some merchandizing. The two partners in 1769 bought a lot of English goods and had them shipped to Virginia, but because this aspect is not covered with known records, the extent of their partnership in merchandizing is a mystery. The partnership ended in 1784 when they had an agreement, or contract, which was placed in the Henry County Deed Book for August 26, 1784. In this agreement John Wimbish was once again listed as living in Pittsylvania County, while the land transactions dating from 1777 on suggest he and Hughes were residents of Henry County during their dealings. Whether he relocated first to Henry County and moved back to Pittsylvania or whether there is some other explanation remains unknown. Their 1784 transaction stated that the former partners had mutually agreed to equally divide their jointly held lands. In this division Archelaus Hughes was to receive title to 437 acres on both sides of Mill Creek of the Mayo River that had been purchased from Nicholas and Robert Lankford. It seems reasonable that this partnership had been important and instrumental in getting Archelaus Hughes involved in county politics, possibly merchandizing and becoming a large landowner.

Two later land transactions of note came first on October 8, 1787, when Jonathan Hanby, Archelaus' brother-in-law, sold him 110 acres on the branches of the South Mayo River for 50 pounds. Then on July 24, 1791, William Mills of Henry County sold to Archelaus Hughes a tract of land containing 1,000 acres on Crooked Creek with connections to the lines of Fontaine and Walton. This extended tract of land crossed five branches or streams. It was the largest tract of known land to be bought by Archelaus Hughes and was located near the North Carolina line just west of the present day Archelaus Hughes Cemetery. In January of 1793 he purchased 504 acres on the south side of the North Mayo River for 200 'Pounds current money of Virginia.' He continued expanding his land holdings, and besides the considerable land owned in Patrick County, he owned land in Prince Edward County and Lee County, Virginia, land on Snow Creek in Stokes County, N.C. and property near Leaksville, N.C. In 1794 Archelaus increased his land holdings by purchasing land in Surry County, North Carolina.

We know very little of the personal side of Archelaus as there are no known records such as letters or even personal stories of the man and only a few on the family. The deficiency of data includes no family Bible that could have listed the order, names and dates of birth of the children. Instead, we are today unsure whether the family consisted of nine children as some suggest, or eleven as most agree upon or thirteen as listed in this account. We can surmise this much, he was in Halifax County by 1763 when he would have been twenty years of age. While he may have seen plenty of wild animals in his native county of Goochland, he definitely was in their midst when he moved to southwestern Virginia. In the frontier settlement there were in his days plenty of game and many wolves as the top predator. After his marriage to Mary Dalton in August or September of 1769, their first child was born in 1770 and was named Leander after Archelaus' father. By the time of the Declaration of Independence Archelaus' family was growing in number as were his land holdings, business interests and involvement with the militia. By the end of the Revolutionary War the oldest living child was only 13 years old while his father Archelaus was forty years of age. He had established himself near the South Mayo River and found, without moving, he was in three different counties-Pittsylvania, Henry and last Patrick. He served as a local justice of the peace in Pittsylvania County and nearly from the beginning of Henry County was a gentlemen justice of the county court. For two years (1780-82) he served as the sheriff of Henry County. This required much time away from home with extensive travel throughout the large county as he collected taxes, served justice on those breaking the law and carrying out the orders of the county court. At the conclusion of his term as sheriff he was appointed to the Commission of the Peace and given the added positions of Justice in Chancery and Justice of Oyer and Terminer. His community service would continue and with the formation of Patrick County in 1791, he was again a justice of the county court and was highly involved in the creation of the new county's government and facilities as he had been in the formation of Henry County. He would so serve until near his death.

A family story incorporated in Mrs. Horton's work states that Mary Dalton Hughes, due to her Uncle John Dalton of Alexandria, had occasions to meet and know George Washington and was invited to his home. The same source states that Archelaus Hughes held an 'office of trust' in the Washington Administration at Philadelphia. Furthermore, he had his wife Mary with him there where she 'proved herself in Philadelphia society.' If so, it must have been for an extremely brief duration as the court records for Henry County (1789 through 1791) and Patrick County (until his death) show he was heavily engaged in the civic activities of these two counties during Washington's time as President. The first account seems plausible and could well have happened prior to Mary Dalton's marriage to Archelaus. The notion that Archelaus served in President Washington's administration at Philadelphia appears highly suspect, motivated by designs of later generations boosting family grandeur.

Other than a few bits and pieces little more can be said concerning the family. In some business dealings we learned that Archelaus Hughes bought considerable linen sheeting, whether for resale or use by this family. In an account he settled with a Henry L. Biscoe in 1796, there was more linen sheeting plus ?16 yards of black bombazet? and other items including gilt pins, knee buckles and pewter dishes. A note of Archelaus Hughes eventually came into the hands of Mrs. Horton. The document was witnessed by Archelaus' 16 year-old son John (which would place the business note about 1792). Four of the Hughes sons served in the Virginia House of Delegates-Archelaus, Jr., in 1799, John in 1800-1801 and 1816, Samuel 1807-1813 and Madison R. in 1821. At least two of the sons, John and Samuel, became Masons and both joined in Patrick County, Virginia.

In November of 1790 the Virginia General Assembly passed an act creating a new county named Patrick County, divided from the western portion of Henry County. It was officially formed on June 1, 1791. Governor Beverly Randolph appointed twelve men to serve as justices of the Patrick County Court. It is believed the governor made his selections from names submitted to him for consideration by Abraham Penn, Archelaus Hughes, Jonathan Hanby and Samuel Staples. Although not on the original slate of justices, Archelaus Hughes was appointed in 1792 and took the oath of office during the August court of that year. Most interesting of all, on the day he took his oath as a Gentleman Justice the court records stated that he was considered the ?Presiding Judge of the Court.? This revealed how his fellow justices felt about their new associate and the wealth of experience he brought with him. The early meetings of the court were in homes and rented facilities. Their struggles to get the necessary facilities for the county mirrored the earlier struggle that Archelaus was heavily involved with in Henry County. Two important steps in the process were to choose a location for the courthouse and establish a system of roads to connect the courthouse with the rest of the county. The site of the courthouse and other county facilities was selected in late June or early July of 1792 and the deed secured for the property. The site chosen was without inhabitants, but eventually a town would form around the courthouse. The General Assembly responded to a petition and in November directed that the new county seat be called ?Tayorsville,? (later renamed Stuart). Archelaus Hughes, Abraham Penn, James Lyon, Samuel Clark, Francis Turner, James Armstrong, William Banks, William Carter, Charles Foster and George Penn were appointed trustees of the new town. They were empowered to make the necessary rules and regulations for the building of houses and businesses in the new location and to settle disputes regarding property boundaries. The town lots were sold to finance the construction of the courthouse.

As the county's plans unfolded, it was decided that ten acres were needed for a 'Prison, Courthouse & Ordinary.' The latter would be a private business where those coming to the courthouse could find lodging, meals and liquid refreshment. Abraham Penn constructed the new 'prison' or jail facility that included stocks and pillory as well as cells. In July of 1794 the justices of the court ordered that a 'Ducking Stool' be made for the county use. Traditionally the stocks and pillory were used to punish men, and the ducking stool was used on women. The record does not indicate if the ducking stool was built or used. It is known that the prison or jail was repaired several times in the first few years. The center feature was the courthouse itself. In April of 1793 the Patrick County Court appointed Archelaus Hughes, Abraham Penn and James Lyon or 'any two of them' to award the contract to build the courthouse per stated specifications. On October 31, 1794, commissioners appointed by the court inspected the new structure and received it for the county.

Archelaus was fifty years of age when he and his associates awarded the contract for the construction of the Patrick County Courthouse. With the new facilities he now had to travel approximately 16 miles from his home via the courthouse road to Taylorsville where the county's business was transacted. Because he was a justice of the court plus had many business dealings, he would travel that road many times over the remaining few years of life. For several years the county court worked at establishing and improving a network of roads leading to the courthouse. In this process the court assigned men to find the best route, and in Archelaus' area four men had the section from Russell Creek to the Carolina Road that ran by Hughesville. Their specific task was from where Samuel Corn's 'path' left the 'Hollow Road' and to connect it to 'Hughes Road.' When constructed, this road's eastern terminus was a few hundred yards south of Hughesville and on the Hughes property where it branched off the Carolina Road that ran north and south past Hughesville. The new road ran westward with a slight northern inclination to Russell Creek and crossed just west of Samuel Corn's place, where a 'path' or slight trace led from the 'Hollow Road' to Samuel Corn's place. When completed, this Courthouse Road ran south of the South Mayo River over to Taylorsville and the courthouse.

Among his many duties with the Patrick County Court was the oversight of the county militia. Due to a long and varied career as an officer in the militia, he was qualified in this role. On Tuesday July 9, 1793, there was some major re-staffing of the Patrick County militia, and this was something that was worked on several times during each year, primarily appointing the officers of the Patrick County militia.

Another consideration was the influx of new religions. Prior to the Revolution the Church of England was the established church with tax moneys used to support the religion. Now that church, even with a new name, was not popular or the only church. The Episcopal Church now had more competition than it could handle, and the county had a new situation to deal with in one way or the other. It did so in a limited way. In July of 1792 James Rea came before the court and produced his credentials of being in regular communion with the 'Baptist Society.' On September 9, 1793, before Archelaus Hughes and his fellow justices, Isaac Adams came before the court and presented credentials of his ordination in the Baptist Church and he entered into a bond. It is not known if the earlier preacher had to post a bond, or if the court added this extra measure only afterwards. On October 30, 1794, another Baptist minister came before the court when Archelaus Hughes was presiding. On this occasion John Nunn produced his credentials, assuring that he was in regular communion with the 'Baptist Society' and another man posted his security. By this procedure the ministers were allowed to hold meetings and preach to the people of the county. Possibly these measures were undertaken as a precaution sparked by previous itinerant preachers coming into the county in a wave of enthusiasm that to some bordered on unruly behavior by some of the new religions. All of the ministers recorded in the court minutes were associated with the Baptist religion with the Methodist never mentioned in Henry or Patrick counties during Archelaus' time.

Mrs. Horton wrote that, 'Some of the Hughes family became converts of Mr. Whitfield, and later were known as Methodists.' George Whitefield (pronouned Whitfield but spelled Whitefield) was an English born revivalist who helped spark America's Great Awakening while making seven preaching tours of America from 1738 to 1770. Called the 'Great Itinerant' due to much travel and open air meetings, he spent the most time in America during two trips, first between 1738 to 1741 and again between 1744 and 1748. His evangelistic endeavors ranged from Georgia up to New England, and he had an impact in all of the English colonies in America. By 1750 the enthusiasm and ardor for the religious movement was playing out. In Virginia and North Carolina, except in the well-established tidewater area, the new religious fervor dealt a heavy blow to the old established Church of England, renamed Anglican Church, and it largely fell apart west of the tidewater. In Henry and Patrick counties the void was filled by the new sects-primarily the Baptists. Whitefield's trips to America up through 1748 were much too early for him to have personally affected Archelaus Hughes. Then in 1769 Whitefield made his final voyage to America, arriving late in November. After wintering in Georgia he concentrated his efforts in Philadelphia, New York and New England where he died in the latter part of 1770. Therefore, a fairly safe assumption would be that Archelaus did not hear Mr. Whitefield preach, and quite possibly that the emphasis should be placed on the 'some of the family' rather than on Archelaus in connection with Whitefield's influence. The effects of the 'Great Itinerant' went beyond his personal rounds and lifetime, and many preachers began imitating his ways and means.

2004 Henry H. George

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