Person:David Dryden (4)

David Dryden, Jr. was one of the Early Settlers of Augusta County, Virginia

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Overview

Early Land Acquisition in Augusta County, VA

Acquisition of Land from Chalkley's:

• Page 351.--15th October, 1765. James Dryden to David Dryden, Jr., 150, 144 acres in Forks of James below fork of Buffelo Creek. Delivered: D. Dryden, Jr., October, 1775.

Personal Data

Records of Archibald Hamilton in Augusta County, VA

From Chalkley's Augusta County Records:

• Vol. 2 - Simon Ely vs. James Thompson--O. S. 36; N. S. 12--(See Eli vs. Davis, supra; same case.) Robert Davis deposes, 1802, that in 1779, he and Alex. Wiley drove cattle to Turkey Cove in Powell's Valley where they found Peter Cloud living, tending stock for James Thompson. He and Alex continued on to the Cumberland country and then returned. William Collier deposes. David Dryden deposes that in 1771 he removed to the country now called Washington, and came to the house of Thomas Berry. William Blanton deposes, September, 1803, that he has been acquainted with Powell's Valley since 1770 and was on a hunting party there in 1771-1772. He has now been living in the Valley 11-12 years. Vincent Hobbs deposes 1803, he first became acquainted with the land in 1773 and settled there in 1780. Nathan Richardson deposes, 1804, that he became acquainted with the land in 1770 or 1771 on a hunting trip and met there Thomas Berry and McGehee. Philip Catrine deposes, 1804, that he had been acquainted with the Valley 25 years. Arbuckle was living there then. Vincent Hobbs deposes, 1804, that he first became acquainted in 1770-1771; has lived on the land 17 years. Collier was always called Lying Bill Collier. Robert Preston deposes (brother to Walter Preston). Thomas Berry deposes, September, 1803, that in 1770, or 1771, he went to Powell's Valley with William McGahee, who was then a stranger in the county and went with Thos. on a hunting party. Thomas went up the country after some Buffaloes and when he returned he saw some trees deadened which McGahee claimed as his improvement. McGahee when they went on the hunting party owned a place on Holston bought from one Walling, where he lived about 70 miles from Powell's Valley. Thomas Soward deposes, 1802, is about (56) fifty-six years old; in Russell County; in 1776 he and Jephta Massey, his brother-in-law, settled at Turkey Cove, planted corn, cabbage, peach stone, apple seed and remained on the land until obliged to remove on account of the Indian War. John Hoover deposes, 1804. James Fugate deposes, 1804. Henry Hoover deposes, 1804, that in 1782 he drove Gen. Shelby's stock to range in Turkey Cove. Nathan Richardson aged about sixty-five (65) years, deposes, 1802, that in 1771 he was on a hunting expedition in Powell's Valley and met Thomas Berry, David Carson and William McGahee. Answer states. Jephta Massey made the first settlement, who invited Thomas Sowers to come there who made a settlement. Massey sold to Rachel Arbuckle, who allthough a married woman, being separated from her husband by mutual consent, lived and transacted business as a single woman. Jephtha Massey deposes in Monroe County, 5th November, 1802, in April, 1775 or 1776, he made an improvement on Turkey Cove and remained there until June, when everybody was driven away by the Indians, but returned in the fall.

• Vol. 2 - Sheffet's administrator vs. Rankin's administrator--O. S. 357; N. S. 129-- William Johnston by his will in Augusta, dated 1808, bequeathed to his half-sister Jane Shields, wife to Patrick Shields, living near mouth of Missouri, £100. Patrick died 1809; Jane in 1811, in Illinois, leaving son Nathaniel, who had many relations in Washington County, Va. Letter, 15th May, 1811, by David Dryden, Sr., to Mrs. Jane Shields: Dear Sister--Has heard her husband is dead; her son-in-law Monson is dead. The last he heard from son Wm. he was well; had a wife and three or four children; he lives at New Dublin. Her brother, James Dryden, is dead and her brother, William Johnson, is also dead. David's children have left, except Nathaniel. Jonathan has moved to Duck River. Wm. and Thos. live close by him. David, Jr., is married again and has a daughter. Wm. has three sons; Thos. has 2 daughters. She is in her 69th year.

Footnotes

1. ↑ Ancestry.com. OneWorldTree (2). (Name: The Generations Network, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA;), Database online.

   Record for William Dryden