Archelaus had the experience of issuing his son-in-law, Brett Stovall, the oath of office as a justice on the Patrick County Court on August 12, 1793. Much of the county court?s work was involved with running the affairs of the county, ranging from approving deeds, settling estates and determining animal brands to building roads, to perpetually fixing the jail, but there were judicial duties as well. The court had a case on October 30, 1793, of a man accused of feloniously stealing the black slave of another man. The court heard the evidence presented and examined the witnesses and concluded the man so accused was not guilty. Another important function of the court was to determine who would be taxed and how much. Archelaus Hughes was on the bench during the April court of 1794 when the court ruled that John Jones, a schoolmaster, was exempt from the payment of county and parish levies for the future.
On December 25, 1794, the court ordered the county sheriff to advertise that there would be an election on the first Monday of the coming April for the position of Overseer of the Poor, at first the only elected position in the county. In the northeast section of the county the election would be held in John Koger?s house with Charles Foster to superintend the voting. At the same time in the ?Lower District? in the southwest side of the county, the election would be in Samuel Clark?s house with Archelaus Hughes to superintend the election there. The court provided the money for the Overseer of the Poor to care for the widows and needy. It was issued orders in special cases such as on August 27, 1795, concerning two orphaned brothers. The court, with Archelaus on the bench, directed the Overseer of the Poor to ?bind out? the two boys to someone to work for their board and keep. On September 24, 1795, Archelaus Hughes and his fellow justices on the Court heard a pitch by a man collecting subscriptions for a project to open the Dan River to navigation. There were probably many other schemes of like nature.
Archelaus Hughes? life passed through six Virginia counties, and in the last four he left a distinct paper trail of records, but the brief court minutes do not shed much light on the individuals making the decisions and issuing orders, etc. In addition, with Archelaus Hughes there exists a dearth of family stories and information about him personally. From the few bits and pieces available, some inferences can be made without resorting to ?reading the tea leaves,? and hopefully it will open a small window into the individual. But a caution is advisable as we ?see through a glass, darkly? (I Corinthians 13:12).
Possibly the first and safest observation should be that he was an extremely industrious individual, highly involved with his family, his plantation, his county and his country. He was a husband, father, businessman, public servant and patriot. When his estate inventory was taken after his death, it was recorded that he possessed 45 books ?of different kinds? in his home. This was not a comparable holding to Thomas Jefferson?s but it was sufficient to be called a library, and more than most people possessed at the time. Assuredly his wife Mary and the children were involved in all aspects of the books available. Three other items on the estate inventory will be quickly noted: namely his shotgun, silver watch, and horses. On the single weapon recorded on the inventory, the surprising thing is that there was not more. Certainly a shotgun was the most practical and universal weapon, but with his long militia experience a rifle, pistol and sword would have been expected. Possibly any that he did possess were given to his sons or were sold through his store. His ?silver watch? was evaluated at �6 and 15 shillings and was an expensive timepiece reflecting his station in life. However, more to the essence of the possession, as a businessman, militia officer and court official, he frequently had need of knowing the time and its passage. Then his horses must have been his pride and joy. From the earliest tax listings he had horses. They were in the course of his life his beasts of burden, draft animals and riding and driving horses. But somewhere along the way these Equus callabus became extra special to the plantation owner who died in December of 1796. Beyond question all of his animals were important to the plantation and his family, but the horses were consequential to the owner. In his estate inventory there were listed 11 horses and one colt with the sizeable worth of �178 by the appraisers in the inventory. More revealing than value was that six of these animals were given names and to the point that others recognized the named prized horses. Two of these horses, ?Brocious? and ?Banel,? were valued at �36 and �42 each, and with that high amount it is tempting to suggest that they were more than fine riding or driving horses, and could have possibly been used in racing or breeding, or both. Perhaps suggesting that Archelaus was a sportsman in his time; just possibly he loved horse racing (hinted at by the earlier ?gaming? accusation).
When Archelaus Hughes? estate inventory was totaled, the value of the moveable property (land and buildings were not included) was set as �1616 - 2 - 5 � (1616 pounds, 2 shillings and 5 � pence). He owned 18 slaves with a value of �1110 and 10 shillings, and this constituted just over 68% of his moveable estate. It should be observed that his land holdings, improvements and home and other buildings were assuredly of more value than total inventory evaluation of the moveable inventory. His horses were appraised at �178 while his bovine possessions accounted �100 and 9 shillings. They included a dozen cows and calves, 20 yearlings, 3 heifers, 10 barren cows with another seven just listed as ?cattle.? He also had one ?work steer? or ox and one bull. His swine included 20 classified as hogs and 19 as shoats? (young hogs) along with ?2 Sows & 12 pigs? and ?1 sow, piggs & shoats.? To finish off the listed animals the estate recorded five sheep plus ?5 ewes & lambs.? Chickens and other fowl were usually on all farms and plantations but not listed on the estate inventories.
The inventory listed a wide assortment of equipment and tools for farming along with woodworking and blacksmith tools. The family possessed a loom and the needed accouterments and apparatus to handle wool, cotton and flax to make cloth and linen. The household items included the cooking and kitchen wares and items from broiler to a Dutch oven and a small oven. There were listed ?9 Feather Beds, steads and furniture? which were valued at �90 and must have included other items beyond the beds. The family possessed a bookcase, two cupboards, four desks, four trunks, one chest and three tables plus a tea table to fill out their ten-room house with a large family. The descriptions of most items are minimal but some of the listings suggest better than normal for items such as a pewter ink stand, pewter tea pot, pewter plates, basin and dish, pewter and silver spoons, French enameled mugs, enameled tea pot and cream pot. At first glance the number of scales-1 pair of money scales, 1 pair stellards (or steelyards) and 1 pair of brass weights and scales-might be thought to represent a carryover from the store days. However, this was not necessarily so as many farms and most plantations had at least as many scales or more.
The inventory of moveable goods was considerable for a family even on a sizeable plantation, but perhaps light for one if a store or several stores were involved. A contemporary of Archelaus Hughes from northern Patrick County in an estate inventory in 1809 had an evaluation of just over of �666. This man had four slaves valued at �250 leaving �416 for the remaining items on the inventory. Archelaus Hughes? total moveable valuation of just over �1616 minus the slave value (�1110) left �506 for the remaining items or just �90 more than the other man?s estate. These numbers plus the listed items on the estate inventory forces the conclusion that the inventory after Archelaus Hughes? death did not include any stores (not the seven ascribed to him or possibly a single one functioning for his plantation). Either he had stopped his mercantile businesses or they were not included for reasons not given or not clear today.
The total value of the moveable property of Archelaus Hughes? estate came to slightly over �1616, and he was a wealthy man especially since as his land, fine home, and plantation buildings were not included in the figure. There are several mitigating situations and economic theories that make exact conversion from the old currency of Virginia at the time of his estate inventory to today?s currency difficult, contentious and confusing. One conversion chart on the English pound has the estate?s �1616 value in 1798 as approximately equal to �96,364 in purchasing power in the year 2001. Then with an exchange rate of U.S. $1.45 per pound in 2001 the moveable property would be valued in the range of $140,000 in today?s dollars.
In the year 1796 Archelaus Hughes attended the February court for three days, missed the March court, attended two days in April, missed again in May and attended one day in June. Then on July 29, 1796, he was at court in what would be his final appearance. At a later session of the same July court the minutes chronicle not just the normal presence of the justices, but instead the opposite-?Absent A. Hughes, Francis Turner, Charles Thomas.? Five months later on December 29, 1796, the court had scheduled a case of ?Hughes vs. McCain,? but this court date came too late and the justices wrote adjacent to this case ?abated by the death of Pltf.? Plaintiff Archelaus Hughes had died four days earlier and since he was the complaining party in the litigation, the case was dismissed.
Because Archelaus? early death came when his oldest child was only 26 years of age and the majority of the children were under the age of 18, most of the land division came after the death of their father. Some earlier known divisions include on May 10, 1793, when Archelaus Hughes gave to Brett Stovall 437 acres of land on Mill Creek of the Mayo River ?for and in consideration of a marriage contract? between Stovall and Nancy Hughes. The reason and terms set forth in the Patrick County Deed Book #1 on page 116 all very charitable and legal. On March 9, 1794, the father deeded land as a gift to his two oldest sons. Leander and Archelaus, Jr., were granted 400 acres on the waters of Mayo River and Crooked Creek and touching the North Carolina line. The description placed this tract of land just west of the Sheppard?s Mill Road and parallel to the North Carolina border. The land was given jointly to the two brothers with the condition that it was to be divided equally in ?Quantity and quality? between the two. Apparently between this time and Archelaus, Sr.?s death in 1796, he began the process of giving additional land to his oldest daughter, Nancy Hughes Stovall, who had recently married. But this last grant to the Stovalls was not finalized until March of 1803 and January of 1804 in legal documents in the county court. The land was placed in the name of Nancy?s husband Brett Stovall, and the wording stated that the 752 acres had been conveyed to the new owner by Archelaus. The legal technicalities came eight years after Archelaus? death, and involved his widow being interviewed by justices of the court ?separate and apart from her dead husband that she was giving up her right of dower freely and voluntarily without threats from her husband?-dead those many years. Apparently when each of the Hughes children married or wanted to strike out on their own, they were given similar grants of land and or money. Jeancy and her husband obtained Hughes land in Lee County, Virginia; William had the Snow Creek land in Stokes County, N.C. and so forth.
One of Archelaus Hughes? last known dealings was with his father-in-law, Samuel Dalton, and brother-in-law, John Dalton. The exact nature of the business is not known but a note written in the hand of Samuel Dalton assures repayment of a note with these words:
We, Samuel and John Dalton, do agree to pay to Archelaus Hughes, or his assigns, the amount of a Bond due from Wm. Dalton to said Hughes, on or before the 25th day of December.
Witness our hands this 9th June, 1796
[Signed] Samuel Dalton
John Dalton
Ironically, Archelaus Hughes could have only received payment on the notes ?before? the date declared as on that Christmas Day of 1796 he died at his Hughesville residence at the age of 53 years. It was an early untimely death but all too common in the late 18th century. He was buried in the established family burial grounds located closer to the log home than the plantation house at Hughesville. Apparently two of the Hughes children preceded their father in death and were perhaps the first burials in the family burial grounds, now called the Archelaus Hughes Cemetery just north of Road 631 and a short distance west of the Henry County line. Here Mary Hughes would be buried beside her husband almost 45 years later in 1841 followed by two sons and a daughter and then a great grandson. Afterward another family burial area was created near the Hughesville home.
The Patrick County Court where Archelaus Hughes had overseen the settlement of many estates of deceased citizens during his years on the court now had to settle his estate. On Thursday, January 26, 1797, the court granted the administration of the estate of the deceased Archelaus Hughes to his widow Mary Hughes and son John Hughes with securities posted by old associates and friends Jonathan Hanby, William Carter, Thomas Mitchell, William Lindsay, Gabriel Penn and Peter Scales. At the same time the court assigned Joshua Rentfro, Joseph Stovall and Richard Mills to appraise the Hughes estate. Surprisingly, over eight years later at the May Court of 1805 the inventory of Archelaus Hughes? estate was returned by the appraisers to the court which ordered it to be recorded. The lack of a will, the size of the estate and several lawsuits contesting previous land transactions to family members were major factors in the length of time between death and settlement. Much of the division of land and goods had already taken place or planned while Archelaus was living. He was in both Henry and Patrick counties one of the most successful plantation owners and businessmen, an accomplished citizen and noted civic leader. Possibly the best brief summation of his life is found in the inscription on his headstone at the Hughes Cemetery which reads:
I. Orlando Hughes:
1). Royal Grant of land to Orlando Hughes September 20, 1745 of 400 acres in Goochland County [Source Library of Virginia Land Office Patents and Grants - No. 22, 1743 - 1745 (Vol. 1 & 2) Reel 20 pp. 505 -506]
George the Second by the Grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith &c. To all to whom these Present shall come Greetings Know ye that for divers good cause and considerations but more especially for and in consideration of the Sum of Forty Shillings of good and Lawful Money for our use paid to our Received General of our Revenues in this our Colony and Dominion of Virginia We have Given Granted and Confirmed and by these Present for us our Heirs and Successors do Give Grant and Confirm unto Orlando Hughes one certain Tract or Parcel of land containing Four hundred Acres lying and being in the County of Goochland on the North Branches of the Cat Branch of Willis River and bounded as followeth, to wit: Beginning at a white oak on the Ridge between Randolphs Creek and the Cat Branch and running thence,-nen[?] Lines South Seventy Degrees East ^ [caret insertion of a longer line of directions] two hundred and eighteen Poles to Pointers South forty Degrees West three hundred & one Poles to Pointers North Sixty five Degrees __?_ [ness or next] [resumption of line above with the caret] two hundred and twenty Poles to Pointers North thirty five Degrees East one hundred and twenty eight Poles to a Red Oak Saplin North forty seven Degrees East one hundred and forty seven Poles to the first Station. Withall woods underwoods Swamps Marshes Low Grounds Meadows Feedings and his due Share of all Veins Mines and Quarries as well discovered as not discovered within the Bounds aforesaid and being part of the said Quantity of Four hundred Acres of Land and the Rivers Water and Water Courses therein contained together with the Privileges of Hungting Hawking Fishing Fowling and all other Profit Commodities and Herititaments whatsoever- To have hold Possess and Enjoy the said Tract or Parcel of Land and all other the before granted Premises and every part thereof with their and every their Appurtenances unto the said Orlando Hughes and to his Heirs and Assigns forever To the only use and behoof of him the said Orlando Hughes his Heirs and Assigns forever To be held of us our Heirs and Successors as of our Mannor of East Greenwich in the County of Kent in free and common Soccage and not in Capite or by Knights Service Yielding and paying unto us our Heirs and Successors for every Fifty Acres of Land and in Proportionably for a Lesser or Greater Quantity than Fifty Acres the Fee Rent of one shilling yearly to be paid upon the Feast of Saint Michael the Arch Angel and also Cultivating and Improving three Acres part of every Fifty of the Tract above mentioned within three years after the Date of these Presents Provided always that if three Years of the said Fee Rent shall at any Time be in arrears and unpaid or if the said Orlando Hughes his Heirs & assigns do not within the Space of three Year next coming after the Date of these Present Cultivate and Improve three Acres part of every Fifty of the Tract above mentioned Then the Estate hereby granted shall Cease and be utterly Determined and thereafter it shall and may be lawful to and for us our Heirs and Successors to grant the same Lands and Premises with the appurtenances unto such other Person or Persons as we our Heirs and Successors shall think fit In Witness whereof we have Caused these our Letters Patent to be made Witness our Trusty and Well beloved William Gooch Esquire our Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief of the said Colony and Dominion at Williamsburgh under the seal of our said Colony the Twentieth Day of September one thousand seven hundred and forty five and forty five in the Nineteeth Year of our Reign.
[signed] William Gooch
?Exam?d? [written in left hand margin opposite the last line.]
2). Royal Land Grant to Orlando Hughes on April 23, 1755 for 800 acres in Cumberland and Albemarle Counties [Source Library of Virginia Land Office Patents and Grants-No. 32 1752 -1755 (Vol. 1 & 2) Reel 30, pp. 516-518]
George the Second by the Grace of God of Great Britain France and, Ireland King Defender of the Faith &c. To all to whom these Presents shall come Greeting Know ye that for divers good causes & considerations but more especially for and in Consideration of the Sum of Four Pounds of good and Lawful money for our use paid to our Receiver General of our Revenues in this our Colony and Dominion of Virginia We have Given Granted and Confirmed and by these Presents for us our Heirs and Successors Do Give Grant and Conform unto Orlando Hughes one certain Tract or Parcel of Land containing eight hundred Acres lying and being in the Counties of Albemarle and Cumberland on the branches of Randolph Creek and Cat branch and bordered as followeth to wit: Beginning at two Hickory Saplins and running Thence on John Palmers North forty five Degrees West one hundred and sixty eight Poles to Pointers Thence on the said Hughes? own line North forty degrees East two Hundred Poles to Pointers North seventy Degrees West two hundred & fourteen Poles to a white Oak North twenty Degrees West fifty two Poles on George Carrington?s Line to Pointers Thence on John Cannon North sixty Degrees East one hundred and sixteen poles to a white Oak North eighty degrees East one hundred and ninety four Poles to Pointers South forty five Degrees East one hundred Poles to Pointers North forty five degrees East fifty Poles to Pointers Thence on Francis Jerdon South fifty eight Degrees East one Hundred and ninety four Poles to Pointers Thence on John Thomas South forty six Degrees West two Hundred and thirty eight Poles to a white Oak Thence on Drury Scrugg?s the same course Continued two Hundred & fifty four Poles to the beginning which said Land was formerly granted unto William Gray by two several Patients for four hundred Acres each one bearing date the twentieth Day of March one thousand seven Hundred and forty five the other the twenty fifth Day of June one thousand seven Hundred and forty seven And on the Petition of Gideon Harve the said Lands for want of Cultivation & Improvement according to Law and the conditions of the said Patients were by our General Court the nineteenth Day of October One thousand seven Hundred and fifty one adjudged to be forfeited and __[sold] again in __?_ and at a Council held before our Lieutenant Governor and Council the twenty third Day of August one thousand Seven Hundred and fifty four for Reasons appealing[ ?] to the Board[?] It was Ordered that a Patient be granted to the said Orlando Hughes for the said Lands Withall Woods Underwoods Swamps Marshes Low grounds Meadows Feedings and his due share of all veins Mines and Quarries as well discovered as not discovered within the bounds aforesaid and being par of the said Quantity of eight Hundred Acres of Land and the Rivers Water and Water courses therein contained together with the Privileges of Hunting Hawking Fishing Fowling and all other Profits commodities and Hereditaments whatsoever to the same or any part thereof belonging or in any Wise appertaining To have hold Possess and Enjoy the said Tract or Parcel of Land and all other the before granted Premises and every part thereof with their and every of their Appurtenances unto the said Orlando Hughes and to his Heirs and Assigns forever. To the only use and Behoof of him the said Orlando Hughes his Heirs and Assigns forever. To be held of us our Heirs and Successors as of our Manor of East Greenwhich in the County of Kent in free and common Socage and not in Capite or by Knights Service. Yielding and Paying unto us our Heirs and Successors for every fifty Acres of Land and so Proportionably for a lesser or greater Quantity than fifty acres the Fee rent of one Shilling yearly to be paid upon the feast of Saint Michael the Arch Angel and also Cultivating and Improving three Acres part of every fifty of the Tract above mentioned within three years after the date of these Presents. Provided always that if three years of the said fee Rent shall at anytime be in Arrears and unpaid or if the said Orlando Hughes his Heirs or Assigns do not within the Space of three years next coming after the date of these Presents, Cultivate and Improve three Acres part of every fifty of the Tract above mentioned Then the Estate-hereby granted shall cease and be utterly Determined and thereafter it shall and may be lawful to and for us our Heirs and Successors to grant the same Lands and Premises with the Appurte[nances] unto such other Person or Persons as we our Heirs and Successors shall think fit In Witness whereof we have caused these our Letters Patent to be made Witness ourTrusty and well beloved Robert Dinwiddie Esq. our Lieut. Governor and Commander in Chief of our said Colony and Dominion at Williamsburgh under the Seal of our said Colony the twenty third Day of April one thousand seven hundred and fifty five. In the twenty eighth Year of our Reign.
[signed] Rob?t Dinwiddie
3). Orlando Hughes? will dated July 25, 1768 & proved after his death on Sept. 26, 1768 [Cumberland County, Virginia Will Book 1 pp. 359 - 360.]
In the name of God Amen, I Orlando Hughes planter of Southam parish of county of Cumberland in the colony of Virginia am weak in body but in perfect mind and memory thanks be given to Almighty God. Therefore calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die do make and ordain this my last will and testament that it may principally revoking & disannulling all other wills heretofore made by me. first of all I give & recommend my soul into the hands of God that gave it me and my body to the earth to be buried in a christian like manner nothing doubting but at the general resurrection to received the same again by the mighty power of God and as touching such worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me with in this life, I give and dispose of the same in the following manner and form that is Secondly I lend unto my beloved wife Elizabeth all my personal estate excepting two beds for my two youngest sons Josiah and Anthony until my beloved wife Elizabeth?s decease or during her widdowhood and then all my personal estate to be equally divided amongst all my children. Thirdly I give & bequeath to my son Anthony Hughes the tract of land whereon I now live to him and his heirs lawfully begotten of his body but if no such heir should happen then I give the said land into my son Josiah Hughes and to his heirs legally begotten of his body but if no such heir should happen then I give the said land unto my son Caleb Hughes. To him and his heirs & assigns. Fourthly Remembering from the beginning of my will that all my just debts & burial charges to be paid before any division of my estate be made. Lastly I do appoint and ordain my son-in-law John Murray my son Leander Hughes executors to my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have set my hand and fixed my seal the twenty fifth day of July in the year of our lord Christ one thousand seven hundred & sixty eight.
Signed, sealed and delivered to be his last will
Orlando Hughes
and testament in the presence of us.
Willian Torrell
Micajah Hughes
Josiah Hughes
At a court held for Cumberland County the 26th September 1768.
This last will and testament of Orlando Hughes deceased was proved by William Torrell and Micajah Hughes two of the witnesses thereto and by the court ordered to be recorded and on the motion of John Murray and Leander Hughes the executors therein named who made oath according to law certificate is granted them for obtaining a probat [probate] thereof in due form giving security whereupon they together with Robert Douglass and George Carrington junior their securitys entered into bond according to law.
Test. Thompson Swann, clk.
4). Orlando Hughes Estate Inventory taken April 24, 1769 and April 14, 1769. [Source Cumberland County, Virginia Will Book # 1 pp. 448-449]
A just and true inventory of the estate of Orlando Hughes dec?d [� s d]
22 head of cattle � 25 4 horses � 10 35 0 0
21 sheep � 5 3 beds and furniture � 12 17 0 0
22 pigs � 1 .. 7 .. 6 5 sows and 10 shoats �5 6 7 6
one cart and wheels 15/. parcel of corn � 12 12 15 0
50 bushells of wheat � 6 .. 5 .. 0 40 bushels of oats � 2 8 5 0
one pair stellards 10/. 2 flax wheels one cotton ditto � 1 .. 10 .. 0 2 0 0
11 chairs 20/. 3 chests 15/. one loom 5/. 2 0 0
a parcel of old books 0 10 0
4 sickles 2/. 6 moulding plains 3/. 0 5 0
2 bedsteads 5/. one kettle 10/. Parcel of old pewter � 1 .. 15 .. 0 2 10 0
2 saws one slate sheep shears and sword 0 8 0
3 old pots one skillet and a pan 1 0 0
old kitchen lumber 7/. Planters tools 15/. 1 2 0
one share and coulter 10/. one gun � 1 .. 5 .. 1 15 0
augers and chisells 7/. saddle and bridle 10/. 0 17 0
3 pigs 5/. 2 tan sheephides 15/. 1 0 0
old cask � 1 .. 12 .. 6 one negro wench Luce � 40 41 12 6
one negro fellow Pompey 35 0 0
one negro fellow Warwick 20 0 0
� 189 7 0
We the subscribers being first sworn have appraised the estate of Orlando Hughes
To cash 2 .. 0 .. 0
To Rees Hughes acc?t 15 .. 0 .. 0
To Macijah Hughes do. 4 .. 10 .. 0
21 .. 10 .. 0
Thomas Walton
William Terrell
Ralph Flippen
At a court held for Cumberland County 24th April 1769.
This appraisement of the estate of Orlando Hughes, dec?d was returned and ordered to be recorded.
Test Thompson Swann, clk
A true and perfect inventory of the estate of Orlando Hughes deceased taken April 1769.
Twenty two cattle, four horses, twenty one sheep, three beds and furniture, twenty two piggs, five sows, ten shotes [shoats] , one cart & wheels, a parcel of corn, fifty bushels of wheat, forty bushels of oats, one pair steelyards, two flax wheels, one cotton wheel, eleven chairs, three chests, one loom, a parcel of old books, four sickles, six moulding
plains [planes], two bedsteads, one Kettle, a parcel of old pewter, two saws, one slate, one pair sheep shares, one sword, three old potts, one skillet, one frying pan, a parcel of old kitchen lumber, a parcel of planters tools, one share and colter, one gun, some old augers and chisels, one saddle and bridle, three piggs, two deer hides, several old casks, one negro woman named Luce, one negro man named Pompey, one negro man named Warwick, eight hundred & fifty five pounds of tobacco, cash in house two pounds, an acc?t [account] against Rees Hughes fifteen pounds,
an acc?t against Micajah Hughes four pounds ten shillings and Nicholas Morris?s bond for fifteen pounds payable March 15, 1769
John Murray
Leander Hughes
At a court held for Cumberland County 14th April 1769..
This inventory of the estate of Orlando Hughes deceased was returned and ordered to be recorded.
Test Thompson Swann, clk.
II. Leander Hughes:
1). Leander Hughes? first land tittle March 20, 1743 [Source Goochland County, Virginia Deed Book #4 pp. 423- 424]
This Indenture made the Twentieth day of March in the year of our Lord Christ one Thousand seven hundred and fourty three by & between John Woodson of St. James?s parish in Goochland County of the one part & Leander Hughes of the psh [parish] & County aforesaid of the other part. Witnesseth that the said John Woodson for and in consi- deration of the sum of fifty five pounds curr?t money to him in hand already paid by the said Leander Hughes at _____ ____ ______ & Delivering of these premises the receipt whereof he doth hereby acknow- ledge and every part & parcil thereof doth hereby acquit & discharge the said Leander Hughes his heirs Executors & adm?r hath granted aliened Bargained sold Released and confirmed by these presents Doth grant Alien Bargin, Sell Release and confirm unto said Leander Hughes his heirs &Assigns forever one tract or parcil of Land Situate lying & being in the psh [parish] & county aforesaid & bounded as followeth, to witt, Beginning at a pine in Col. Rich?d Randolph?s line & running thence on the said Rich?d Randolph?s South twenty five Degrees East two hundred & sixteen poles to a Sweet Gum South Seven Degrees East one hundred & twenty seven poles to a white oak thence new lines North Sixty Degrees East two hundred & thirty nine poles to a pine North twenty Degrees West two hundred & fourty poles to pointers South eighty five Degrees West one hundred & sixty four poles to pointers the same course continued Seventy six poles to the first Station with all and Singular the appurtenances there unto belonging unto the said Leander Hughes & his heirs to the only proper use & behof [behoof] of him the said Leander Hughes his heirs & assigns forever and the said John Woodson for himself, heirs Executors & Adm?r Doth covenant & grant to & with the said Leander Hughes his heirs & assigns from time to time &at all times forever hereafter peaceably & quietly to have hold occupy possess & enjoy the said premises and the right and title of him the said John Woodson without any Lawfull lott Suite Trouble molestation or Interrruption of him the said John Woodson, his heirs, Executors, Adm?r or assigns or any of them or any other person or persons Lawfully Claiming or to claim in by from or under them or any of them and the said John Woodson for himself & his heirs the said premises as before Intended mentioned & Expressed unto the said Leander Hughes and his heirs against him the said John Woodson & his heirs and all Claiming or to claim in by from or under them or any of them shall & will Warrant & forever Defend by these present In Witness whereof the said John Woodson hath here unto put his hand and affixed his Seal the Day & Year above written.
Signed Sealed & Deliver?d in present of us
John {X} Woodson (his mark) Seal
Edm?d Gray, R. Waltor & G. Marr
Memorandom, That on the nineteenth day of March Anno
Dom one thousand seven hundred & fourty three peaceably and quiet
possession of the Land & premises within granted and Sold was had &
taken by the within named John Woodson & by him Delivered unto the
within named Leander Hughes as ye usual Simbols of Livery & Seizon
according ____ form & Effect of the within Deed.
Sign Sealed & Delivered in presence of us.
G. Marr, Edm?d Gray, R. Walton
At a court held for Goochland County October 16, 1744.
This Deed with the Livery of Seizin endorsed was proved by Oaths of
the witnesses hereto to be the act and Deed of John Woodson which was
ordered to be Recorded.
2). Royal Land Grant to Leander Hughes of November 25, 1743 for 390 acres in Goochland Co. [Source Library of Virginia Land Office Patents and Grants - No. 23, 1743 -1745 (Vol. 1 & 2) Reel 21 pp.641 - 642]
George the Second by the Grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith &c. To all to Whom these presents shall come Greetings Know ye that for divers good causes and Considerations but more Especially for and Consideration of Forty Shillings of good and lawful money for our used paid to our Receiver General of our Revenues in this our Colony and Dominion of Virginia We have Given Granted and Confirmed unto Leander Hughes one certain Tract or Parcel of Land containing three hundred and Ninety Acres lying and being in the County of Goochland on both sides of the Willis River and bounded as followeth (to wit) Beginning at white Oak in Henry Carrys line near the East side of the river ad running Thence new lines South fifty Degrees East one hundred and thirty one Poles to a Poplar Thence South thirty Degrees West three hundred and eighty Poles crossing Pidy Rock run to Pointers Thence North sixty Degrees West one hundred and thirty five Poles to a Pine Thence on Alexander Trent North ten Poles to a Spanish Oak Thence North thirty five Degrees West fifty Nine Poles to a white Oak and Thence on Henry Carry North forty Degrees East three hundred and seventy four Poles to the first Station With all Woods underwoods Swamps marshes, Low grounds meadows Feedings and his due Share of all veins mines and Quarries as well discovered as not discovered within the bounds aforesaid and being part of the said Quantity of three hundred and Ninety Acres of Land and the Rivers waters and water courses therein contained together with the Privileges of Hunting Hawking Fishing Fowling and all other Profit Commodities and Hereditaments whatsoever to the same or any part thereof belonging or in anywise Appertaining To have hold Possess and Enjoy the said Tract
or parcel of Land and all other the before granted Premises and every
part thereof with their and every of their appurtenances unto the said
Leander Hughes and to his Heirs assigns forever To the only use
and behoof of him the said Leander Hughes his Heirs Assigns
forever To be held of us our Heirs and Successors as of our mannor
of East Greenwich in the County of Kent in free and common Soccage &
not in Capite or by Knight Service Yielding and paying
unto us our Heirs and Successors for every fifty Acres of Land and a
Proportionably for a lesser or greater Quantity than fifty acres the
Fee Rent of one shilling yearly to be paid upon the Feast of Saint
Michael the archangel and also the Cultivating and Improving three
acres part of every fifty of the Tract above mentioned within three years
after the date of these presents provided always that if three
years of the said Fee Rent shall at anytime be in arrears and unpaid,
or if the said Leander Hughes his Heirs or assigns do not within the
space of three years next coming after the date of these presents,
cultivate and Improve three acres part of every fifty of the Tract
above mentioned, Then the Estate-hereby granted shall cease &
be utterly Determined and thereafter it shall and may be lawful
to and for us our Heirs and Successors to grant the same Lands and
Premises with the Appurtenances unto such other Person or Persons
as we our Heirs and Successors shall think fit In Witness whereof
we have caused these our Letters Patent to be made Witness our
Trusty and welbeloved William Goochland Esq. our Lieutenant Governor
and Commander in Chief of our said Colony and Dominion at
Williamsburg under the Seal of our said Colony the twenty fifth Day of
November one thousand seven hundred and forty three. In the seventeenth
Year of our Reign.
[signed] William Gooch
?Ex L? [in the left hand margin opposite last line.]
3). Leander Hughes Land Deed for September 16, 1746 - 390 acres. [Source Goochland County, Va. Deed Book #5, pp. 174-175]
This Indenature made the Sixteenth Day of Sep?t one
thousand Seven hundred and fourty six By & Between Leander Hughes
of Southam Parish in Goochland County of the one part, Henry Terry
of the parish & County foresaid of the other part. Witnesseth that the
said Leander Hughes for & in consideration of the sum of fifty
pounds Curr?t money of Virginia to him in hand paid by the said
Henry Terry the Receipt whereof he the s?d [said] Leander Hughes doth
hereby acknowledge & thereof & therefrom doth acquit & Discharge
the s?d [said] Henry Terry his heirs Exec?rs & adm?r Hath given Granted &
Bargained and Sold aliened E_____ & Confirmed and by these presents doth give grant & confirm unto the S?d [Said] Henry Terry & his heirs forever one Certain tract or parcil of land Situate lying and being in the parish & County afores[aid]. Containing three hundred and Ninety acres & bounded as followeth to witt. Beginning at a white oak in Henry Cary?s line thence South fifty Degrees East one hundred & thirty one poles to a poplar thence South thirty Degrees West three hundred and Eighty poles crossing pidy rock run to pointers thence North Sixty Degrees West one hundred and thirty five poles to a pine thence on Alo Trent North four poles to a Spanish Oak thence North thirty five Degrees West fifty nine poles to a white oak & thence on Henry Cary North forty Degrees East three hundred & Seventy four poles to the Beginning with all and Singular the Appurtenances thereunto belonging or in any wise apportaining [appertaining] to have & to hold the S?d [Said] Land with it appurtenances unto the S?d [said] Henry Terry his heirs & assigns forever and the said Leander Hughes for himself & his heirs doth covenant & agree to & with the said Henry Terry & his heirs to Warrant and forever Defend In Witness thereof the said Leander Hughes hath hereunto put his hand and affixed his Seal the Day & Year first above Written.
Signed Sealed & Delivered in presence of us. Leander Hughes Seal
John Radford, Rich?d R. Weatherford
At a Court held for Goochland County September 16, 1746
Leander Hughes acknowledged this Deed to be his act and Deed
and it was thereupon ordered to be Recorded.
4). Leander Hughes Land Deed for September 16, 1746 for 300 acres [Source Goochland County, Va Deed Book #5, pp.181-182]
This Indenture made this Sixteenth Day of Sep?r ann Dom [anno Domini]
one Thousand Seven hundred fourty six Between Daniel Terry of
Southam Parish in Goochland County of the one part and Leander
Hughes of the parish & County afores[aid] of [o]ther part. Wittnesseth that the S?d [said] Daniel Terry for and in Consideration of the Sum of one hundred pounds Curr?t money of Virginia to him in hand paid by the S?d [Said] Leander Hughes the receipt whereof he the s?d [said] Daniel Terry doth hereby acknowledge & thereof and therefrom Doth acquit and Discharge the S?d [Said] Leander Hughes his heirs, Executors and Adm?r Hath given granted Bargained & Sold aliened _______ and Confirmed & by these presents doth give grant & confirm unto the S?d [said] Leander Hughes, and his heirs forever one certain tract or parcil Land in ye psh [parish] & County afores[aid] being three hundred acres be the same more or less & bounded as followeth to witt. Beginning at a corner of James Terry?s by a branch thence South one hundred and fifty two poles to a corner white oak of the S?d [Said] James Terry thence North fourty six Degrees East three hundred & thirty three poles to pointers in Paul Piggs line thence North fourty Degrees West one hundred & thirty poles to pointers Standing in John Williams?s line thence South Eighty two Degrees West along his the said Williams?s line to a branch of Tarswallet thence up the same to the beginning with all & Singular the appurtenances thereunto belonging or in an wise appertaining to have & to hold the S?d [Said] land with its appurtenances unto the said Leander Hughes his heirs and assigns forever and the S?d [Said] Daniel Terry for himself and his heirs Doth covenant and agree to & with the S?d [Said] Leander Hughes and his heirs & to warrant & forever Defend the said land & premises unto the S?d [Said] Leander Hughes his heirs & assigns. In Witness whereof the S?d [Said] Daniel Terry hath hereunto put his hand
and affixed his Seal the Day & Date first above Written.
Signed Sealed & Deliver?d in presence of us Daniel Terry Seal
John Radford, Rich?d R. Weatherford
At a court held for Goochland County September 16, 1746
Daniel Terry acknowledged this Deed to be his act and Deed and
It was thereupon ordered to be Recorded.
5). Leander Hughes Deed for August 16, 1748 for 400 acres [Source Goochland County, VA Deed Book #5 pp. 453-455]
This Indenture made this 16th day of August in the year One Thousand Seven hundred & forty Eight. By & between John Woodson of St. James?s Southam psh [parish] in Goochland County of the one part and Leander Hughes of the County & psh [parish] afores[aid] of the other part. Witnesseth that the s?d [said] John Woodson for & in consideration of the Sum of Fifty five pounds curr?t money to him in hand already paid at & before the Insealing and Delivering of these presents the receipt whereof he doth hereby acknowledge thereof & Every part thereof doth clearly acquit & Discharge the s?d [said] Leander Hughes his heirs Escec?rs [Executors] Adm?rs & every of them by these presents Hath granted aliened bargain Sold Released & Confirmed & by these presents doth grant alien bargain Sell release & confirm to the s?d [said] Leander Hughes one Tract or parcel of Land lying & being in the psh [parish] & County afores[aid] containing four Hundred acres as pr [per] pattent Dated the thirtieth day of June one thousand Seven hundred & forty three and bounded as followeth Beginning at a Pine in Col. Richard Randolphs line runing [running] thence on the s?d [said] Rich?d Randolph South twenty five Degrees East two hundred & Sixteen Poles to a Sweet Gum South eleven degrees East one hundred twenty-Seven poles to a White Oak thence New lines North Sischy [Sixty] Degrees East two hundred & thirty Nine pole to a Pine North twenty Degrees West two hundred & forty Poles to pointers South Eighty five Degrees West one hundred & Sischy [Sixty] four poles to pointers the same corse [course] continued Seventy six Poles to the first Station with all and Singular the appertenances [appurtenances] thereunto belonging unto the s?d [said] Leander Hughes & his heirs to the only proper use and behoof of him the s?d [said] Leander Hughes his heirs & assigns for Ever & the s?d [said] John Woodson for himself his heirs Esce?rs [executors] & adm?rs doth covenant & grant to & with ye s?d [said] Leander Hughes his heirs & assigns by these presents that it shall & may be lawfull for the s?d [said] Leander Hughes his heirs & assigns from time to time & at all times for ever hereafter peaceably & Quietly to have hold, Occupy, possess & Enjoy the s?d [said] premises and the right & title of him ye s?d [said] John Woodson without Lawful lett, Suit, Trouble, Molestation or Interruption of him the s?d [said] Jno. Woodson his heirs Escec?rs & or any of them & ye s?d [said] Jno. Woodson for himself & his heirs ye s?d [said] premises as before intended mentioned, & Escprest [Expressed] unto the s?d [said] Leander Hughes and his heirs against him ye s?d [said] John Woodson & his heirs claiming or to claim by from or under them or any of them shall and will Warrant and forever Defend by these presents. In Witness whereof the s?d [said] John Woodson hath hereunto Set his hand and affisced [affixed] his Seal the Day and Date first above Written.
Signed Sealed & Delivered in presence of.
John {Z} Woodson, Guinia [?] Seal, his mark
[no names listed]
That on the 16th Day of Aug.. Anno Dom [anno Domini] 1748 Peaceable and Quiet possession of the Land and premises within granted and Sold was had and taken by the within Named John Woodson and by him Delivered unto the within named Leander Hughes as the usual Symbles [Symbols] of Delivery & Seizin to the form and attect [attest] of the within Deed.
Signed Sealed & Delivered in the presence of John {Z} Woodson
his mark, Seal
[no names listed]
Received this 16th day of August 1748 of the within written Leander Hughes the Sum of fifty five pounds Curr?t money it being the
Consideration for the land and premises within mentioned I say rec?d pr.
John {Z} Woodson his mark
At a court held for Goochland County Aug. 16, 1748 John Woodson (son of Richard) acknowledged this Deed with the Livery of Seizin and Receipt endorsed to be his acts and Deeds which were ordered to be recorded.
6). Leander Hughes? Will dated March 24, 1775 & proved June 26, 1775 [Source Cumberland County, Virginia Will Book #2 pp. 181 -182] In the name of God Amen. I Leander Hughes of the County of Cumberland and Parish of Littleton being of sound memory though weak in body do constitute and appoint this my last will and Testament. 1st I give my soul to Almighty God from whence it came and in hopes of a happy resurrection at the last day, and as for my worldly Estate I give and bequeath in the manner and form following secondly my desire is that all of my debts be first paid. And thirdly I give and bequeath to my son Powell Hughes the upper half of this tract of land whereon I now live to him and his heirs forever. - Thirdly I give and [Note a second ?Thirdly.?] bequeath to my son Stephen Hughes the other half of the land whereon I now live with the houses that I now live in to him and his heirs forever. Fourthly I give unto my son John Hughes four Negroes and their increase which are as followeth, viz. Grace, Bartlett, Isaac, and Jacob to him and his heirs forever. - Fifthly I give and bequeath all the rest of my Negroes which are as followeth, Will, Pompey, Lett, Isbell, Moses, Phill, Jenney, Joane, to be equally divided between my sons Powell Hughes, Archelaus Hughes, and Stephen Hughes, only my grandson John Watkins is to the sixth part of the value of the above eight mentioned Negroes. Sixthly my desire is that my tract of land in Charles [City] County shall be sold at publick sale and all the rest of my Estate consisting of Stock of Cattle, Horses, hogs and sheep, household and kitchen furniture to pay my debts and all the money that is left after my debts are paid to be equally divided between my four sons Powell Hughes, Archelaus Hughes, Stephen and John Hughes, and I do hereby constitute and appoint Powell Hughes and Archelaus Hughes, Executors of this my last Will and Testament. Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty fourth day of March 1775
Leander {X} Hughes his mark
Sealed & acknowledged in the presence of
Hannah Saunders
John Raine
Dunicha {X} Browder her mark
At the court held for Cumberland County 26th June 1775 The last will and testament of Leander Hughes, deceased was exhibited in Court by Powell Hughes and Archelaus Hughes the Executors therein named and the same was proved by Hannah Saunders, Duniche [?] Browder [?] two of the witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded. And on the motion of the said Executors who made oath according to Law certificate was granted them for obtaining a probat [probate] thereof in due form giving security whereupon they together with Joseph Mays their security entered into bond according to law.
Test Thompson Swann, clk
2004 Henry H. George
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