Person:James Maxwell (54)

Early Land Acquisitions in Virginia

Acquisition of Land in Spotsylvania County, VA:

Rachel Evins acquired 1,000 acres of land "in Great Fork of Rappahannock River, under the Ragged Mountain, adjoining William Duff and John England", as listed in the following record (this was the same land sold in 1743, listed below):

• Patent Book No. 13 page 303 - describes Rachel Evins' land holdings thus: "RACHEL EVINS, of Lancaster Co., 1000 acres (N.L.), Spotsyl. Co., in St George Par; in the gr. fork of Rappk. Riv., under the Ragged Mt; adj William Duff; & John England; on N. fork of the Beverdam Run; Thomas Stonehouse, on Stonehouse's Mt; 28 Sept. 1728,"... [Source: Cavaliers & Pioneers, pg. 346]

• NORTHERN NECK LAND GRANTS VOL. 2 by Gertrude E. Gray pg. 41: " G-368: James Maxwell of Culpeper Co. 634 acres in Culpeper Co. Surv. Mr. George Hume. He possessed 507 acres granted Thomas Stonehouse 28 Sept. 1730 by marriage with Wid. Popham, nearest Relation & Heir of Thomas Stonehouse. He desires this and adjoining land in one plat. On Stonehouse Run, adj John Shotwel, Berryman's Mt. 30 Mar. 1750" (Note: record proves James Maxwell married James Popham's widow).

Disposition of Land from Virginia Records:

• Pages 249-56. 4-5 April 1743. James Maxwell and Rachell his wife of Washington Parish, Westmoreland County, taylor, to James Jones, builder, of Hanover Parish, King George County. Lease and release; for £85 current money, one half to be paid on the examination of Rachel his wife, the other half on 1 May 1743. 1,000 acres in the Great Fork of Rappahannock River under the Ragged Mountain in St. George's Parish, Spotsylvania County... corner to Wm. Duff and John England... by a swamp side... north fork of the Beaver Dam Run... corner to Thomas Stonehouse on the side of Stonehouse Mountain.. south side of the North River... mouth of the Beaderdam Run... (signed) James Maxwell, Rachell Maxwell. Wit: G. Home, Edwd. Spencer, Jno. Willis, Danl. Underwood.

26 May 1743. Acknowledged by James Maxwell.

25 July 1743. Rachll. Maxwell relinquished her right of dower before Wm. Berryman and James Bankhead of Westmoreland County. [Orange County Virginia Deed Book 7, Dorman, pg. 54].

• CULPEPER CO. DEED BOOK C: pp 189-191, 21 June 1759 - James and Rachel MAXWELL and Tebauld Fite: This deed described land on the south side of the Hues's (Hughes) River. This is the same general locality described in File #124 of the Fredericksburg City Chancery Court papers showing the drawing made by the Culpeper County Commissioner appointed to divide the land left to Job Hawkins, land originally in Matthew Hawkins' estate land near the Hughes River and Stonehouse Run.

• CULPEPER COUNTY DEED dated 30-31 December 1768 pp 509-513 - James and Rachel MAXWELL to Agnes MAXWELL: Land deeded to their daughter Agnes "Lease and Release for love and aff. And œ 1000 sterling. 634 acres upperside of Stonehouse above mouth of Stonehouse Run on Hughes River." There's an abstract of this deed on p. 60 in Vol. 4 of CULPEPER COUNTY DEEDS by Dorman. (Agnes Maxwell's sister Hannah was Matthew Hawkins' first wife.)

• CULPEPER COUNTY: 20 October 1788 - Land deeded to Matthew Hawkins from James Maxwell: Sheriff James Slaughter sold Matthew Hawkins 100 acres of the 550 acres he held of James Maxwell's land for the taxes Maxwell owed. Hawkins paid œ 32.5s for this part of his father in law's land.

Records of James Maxwell

CULPEPER COUNTY DEED BOOK F, pages 18-21:

"DD to Mr. Geo. Wetherall May 28, 1773

This Indenture made 14th November 1769 between John Seal of County Culpeper, Parish of Brumfield and Ithyince Seal his wife and John Thomas Jr.. of said County in consideration of Fourty pounds current money of Virginia. John Seal sold 50 acres on waters of Pophams Run near Ragged Mountain it being part of a tract of land granted to Rachael Evins and by the said Rachel Evins and James Maxwell her Husband sold to Thomas Jones of King George County and by him given to his son Joseph Jones and by Deed of Gift by him given to Samuel Lampton and by suit in Chancery in Culpeper Court the Entail of the same was Docked and fee simple again placed in the said Joseph Jones and by him sold to said John Seal beginning at a gum and Spanish oak near the Road...North to a Mahogany to beginning...."

Geo. Wetherall John Seal

Jams. Graves, Michael Klug Ithyince X Seal

William Ward, William Kelby [Kilby]

Joseph Henslee

• H-712: John Towles of Culpeper County, 136 acres in said County. Surv. Phil'p Clayton. In Great Fork of Rappahannock River on Long Piony Mountain, adjoining James Maxwell, near Top of Bank's Mountain. 20 Oct. 1756. [Virginia Northern Neck Land Grants, 1742-1775, Vol. 2, pg. 88].