Person:James Edmiston (1)

James Edmiston
b.Abt 1724 Pennsylvania
m. Est 1720
  1. Dorothy Edmiston.Abt 1721 - Abt 1763
  2. James EdmistonAbt 1724 - 1793
  3. William EdmistonEst 1727 - Bef 1789
  • HJames EdmistonAbt 1724 - 1793
  • WSarah _____Est 1715 - 1800
m. 25 May 1749
  1. Robert EdmistonEst 1752 - Bet 1835 & 1840
  2. Lucretia EdmistonAbt 1754 - Bef 1779
  3. Dorothy EdmistonEst 1756 -
  4. Esther EdmistonEst 1758 -
  5. William EdmistonBet 1759 & 1760 - 1848
Facts and Events
Name James Edmiston
Gender Male
Birth? Abt 1724 Pennsylvania
Marriage 25 May 1749 Augusta, Virginiato Sarah _____
Death[1] 18 Jan 1793 Wilkes County, North Carolina

James Edmiston was one of the Early Settlers of Augusta County, Virginia

Contents

Source Materials
Edmondson Tapestry
Register
Data
Notebooks
Analysis
Bibliography
Graphics
YDNA
Index

……………………..The Tapestry
Families Old Chester OldAugusta Germanna
New River SWVP Cumberland Carolina Cradle
The Smokies Old Kentucky

__________________________


 :Mysource:Genealogy Report for Robert Edmiston (2)
 :Will of James Edmiston of Wilkes Co. NC

__________________________

Overview

This article is for James Edmiston son of Person:Robert Edmiston (2) who came to Borden's Grant about 1740 from Cecil County Maryland, with his brother Person:John Edmiston (2). This James is mentioned in his father's 1749 will. An analysis of the records for "James Edmiston" (and variant surnames) form Chalkley's Chronicles shows that there are at least three James Edmiston's in the area. A summary of the results of this analysis, using "by-names" to identify the various individuals, is given below:

Person by nameSpouseLocationProbable Family AffinityProbable Person Article
James of St. Mary'sSarah Dyer, widow of George Hayslived south of the Timber Ridge MH on Borden's Grant, in the St. Mary's WatershedProbably the son of person:Robert Edmiston (2)person:James Edmiston (1)
James the tavernerAgness ThompsonLived on Beverly's Manor, and probably owned a tavern in Staunton,probably the son of David Edmiston=IsabellaPerson:James Edmondson (9)
James of Red BankLived well north of Beverly's Manor in the "Red Banks" communityFamily affinities unknown

The above family affinities are primarily based on geographic cues. In other words, who the person is related to has been guessed at based on where they were living, and who else was in that area. For example, we know that Person:Robert Edmiston (2) lived on Borden's Grant just southeast of the Timber Ridge MH. This is the same general area where James of St. Mary's lived with his wife Sarah. Sarah is known to be the widow of a George Hays. Robert's brother William lived on Hays Creek in northern Borden's Grant, near Andrew, John, and Charles Hays. The relationship between these three and George Hays is not clear at the moment, but we can guess that George is their kin. Putting all of that together suggests that James of St. Mary's is the son of Robert (2), and therefore, the James of the person:James Edmiston (1) article.

The foregoing gives a reasonable basis for identifying James of St. Mary's as the son of Robert Edmiston (2). It is not proof, as it would be possible for other interpretations to be made. For example, it might be that for whatever reasons James of Red Bank chose to purchase land some 60 miles distant on the St. Mary's River. The distance involved is substantial, but not impossible. We would, however, have to explain (for example) how he came to be married to Sarah Hays, whose family probably centered on Hays Creek on Borden's Grant; its not impossible to think so, but we have no real reason to expect that. While this, and other scenarios like it, are possible interpretations, the identification of James of St. Mary's as the son of Robert (2), seems to be the simplest explanation, and is therefore the one accepted as a working hypothesis.

Personal Data

Personal Data
VitaDatumSource/Basis/Comment
DOB:bef. 1728DOM was 1745-1748; assuming at least 20 years of age at marriage.
POB:Cecil County, MDprobable. Family came from that area to Borden's Grant about 1740; Data is needed on when the family first appeared in Cecil County.
DOD:
POD:
Father:Robert Edmiston
Mother:Jean?
Spouse:Sarah Hayscourt records show that Sarah was the widow of George Hays
DOM:btw 1745 and 1748See Court Records[2]
POM:Borden's GrantJames family was living in this area at the time of his marriage; Sarah's inlaws were also living in this area.
Children
Name DOB POB DOD POD Spouse DOM POM Dispersion and Notes


Will of James Edmiston

TRANSCRIPT OF JAMES'S WILL (Courtesy of Mr. Howard V. Jones) Wilkes County, NC Court WB-1, 1778-1800 - Will of James Edmonston:

In the name of God, Amen, the 13th day of January in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred Ninety Two, I James Edmonston of the Sate of NC, Wilkes County, being very sick and weak in body but of perfect mind and memory, thanks be given to God, therfore 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 my Last Will and Testament, that is to say, first all I give and recommend my Soul into the hands of God that gave it, and for my body I recommend it to the Earth to be buried in a Christian manner at the discretion of my Executors and as touching as such Worldly Estate wherein it hath pleased God to bless me with in this life, I give, devise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form ----
ITEM - I give and bequeth unto my eldest son, Robert Edmonston, all of my right and possession of land in the state of Virginia, with him paying 20 Pds Virginia Money, 10 Pds to my wife, Sarah and 10 Pds to my grandson Samuel Edmonston.
ITEM - I give unto my wife Sarah one black horse, two cows and all of the household furniture during her life and to dispose of as she thinks fit after her death.
ITEM - I give unto my grandson Samuel Edmonston all of this tract of land where I now live, 1 Bay mare and colt, 1 Bay horse, and four head of cattle unto him heirs of his body.
ITEM - I give unto my son-in-law John Childress, 4 Pds, Cow in the hands of Robert ----- and her year old calf.
ITEM - I give Easher Taylor 2 Shillings.
ITEM - I give unto my daughter Dorothier Dunkin 2 Shillings.
ITEM - I give my son William 2 Shillings.
John Childress and George Stacy whom I hereby appoint my Sole Executors of this, my Last Will and Testament, hereby revoking all former wills made by me.
Made in Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and above written.
James (X) Edmonston Seal
Teste: George Stacy, Simom Stacey
Proved July 1793 Term Wilkes County, NC Court"

ACCOUNT OF SALE OF JAMES EDMONDSTON'S ESTATE: Purchasers were: John Childress, Meredy Coffee, George Taylor, Zepeniah Horton, William Edmonston, and John Edmonston. John Childress, Executor, recorded 2 May 1794.

Land Acquisition in Augusta County, VA

Acquisition of Land from Chalkley's:

  • Page 69.--20th February, 1745. Moses Thomson, late of County Augusta, to James Edmiston, £13.17 current money Virginia; 100 acres patented 20th August, 1745, to Moses, on east side South River, Shanandoe, on the Red Banks. Witnesses, Thos. Lewis, John Preston, David Edmiston. 15th April, 1746, proved by Lewis and Edmiston. 12th May, 1746, proved by John Preston.
  • Page 98.--10th August, 1768. Samuel McDowell and Mary to James Edmiston, £10, 170 acres; corner James Richey (on) the Mary; Archibald Alexander's line. Delivered: Moses McSpadden by order James Edmiston, 26th July, 1774. (Note: Moses McSpadden was James Edmiston's nephew, son of Dorothy Edmiston, James Edmiston's sister who married Thomas McSpadden).

Land Acquisition in Amherst County, VA

  • AMHERST COUNTY, VA, Deed Book "D", Page 106, July 12, 1773 - - John Vickers/Eals, Orange County, NC to JAMES EDMISTON, Amherst County, VA 5 Pds, 70 acres, South Branch of Middle Fork, PEDLAR and BLUERIDGE. Lease for ONE year, payment of one ear of Indian Corn due on Lady Day next. Witness: George TAYLOR, Abraham Smith, Charles Ison, ibid, 107, 13 July 1773 - - - John Vickers to JAMES EDMINSTON, 20 Pds, 70 acres as above, Same Winess, Recorded 6 December 1773

Bibliography

Footnotes

  1. FamilySearch: Unidentified database - please replace source when identified.
  2. 1) Thomas Nevitt vs. Edmiston and wife.--Petition. George Heas (Hays) made note to plaintiff 12th June, 1745, and died, leaving widow, Sarah, who married James Edmiston. Writ dated 25th May, 1749. Thomas Nevitt was a Quaker from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. 2) Borden's Executors vs. James Edmonson and Sarah: late Sarah Hays.-- Was unmarried 17th May 1748. James Hays, son of Sarah. Signature of Patrick Hays.