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Facts and Events
James Sawyers (Sayers) was one of the Early Settlers of Augusta County, Virginia
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Early Land Acquisition in Augusta County, VA
Acquisition of Land from Chalkley's:
- Page 362.--28th November, 1749. John Archer and Rebecca, his wife, to James Sayers (Sawyers), 225 acres; Buffalo Lick Creek, a branch of Cathey's River. Corner Ro. Renick. Delivered: Samson Archer, March, 1759.
- Page 353.--29th May, 1750. (s/b 1756) Daniel McAnaire and Hannah to James Sayers. £80, 147 acres, part of 400 patented to Daniel, 10th June, 1740 and bounded by a tract laid off for Thos. Gardner on west and one for Alex Gibson on east. Teste: Jean ( ) Beard, William Christell. Delivered: Sampson Archer, November, 1759. (Note: this record is listed as "1750" in Chalkley's, but it is listed with other deeds recorded in 1756, and is listed as occuring in 1756 in the record below).
Disposition of Land from Chalkley's:
- Page 405.--17th October, 1765. James Sawyers (Sayers) and Rachel ( ) to Sampson Sawyers, £100, 355 acres; corner Robert Rennick; corner one Crawford's land.
- Page 433.--21st October, 1765. James Sayers and Rachel to Daniel McAnare, £200, 140 acres, part of 400 patented to Daniel, 10th June, 1740, and conveyed to James, 29th May, 1756, bounded by tract laid off for Thomas Gardner, also a tract laid off for Alex. Gibson. Delivered: Daniel McAnare, 4th January, 1773.
- Page 283.--19th May, 1767. James Sayers to James Sayers, his son, £150, 2 tracts on Middle River of Shanando--A containing 230 acres, corner John Trimble, crossing the Buffelow branch; B containing 100 acres adjoining the former, corner Thomas Gardner. Teste: George Elliot. Delivered: David Sawyers, devisee of James Sawyers, the grantee, 6th December, 1805.
Will of James Sawyers
Will Abstract:
- Page 232.--19th January, 1790. James Sawyers' will--To son, Sampson Sawyers, 5 shillings; to son, James, 5 shillings; to son, John, 5 shillings; to daughter, Rachel Crawford, 5 shillings; to daughter, Rebecca Sawyers, executrix, all property. Teste: Wm. Sterrett, Wm. Armstrong, Wm. Edmondson. Thos. Sawyers. Proved, 15th June, 1790, by Sterrett, Armstrong, Edmondson. Executrix qualifies. (Note: son James Sawyers had died in 1782 prior to this will, perhaps written prior?),
- Page 358.--19th April, 1791. James Sawyers, Sr.'s, estate appraised by Benj. Brown, Wm. Armstrong, Wm. Sterrett.
Will Transcript:
- Will of James Sawyers
- In the name of God amen the nineteenth of January One Thousand sevenHundred and ninety I JAMES SAWYERS of Augusta County Virginia Now in the Evening of my age and seized with Bodily Infirimity, but of Perfect mind & memory thanks be given unto God therefore calling to mind the mortality of my Body knowing that it is appointed for all men once to Die Do make & ordain that my last will and testament that is to say Principally & first of all I give & recommend my soul to God who gave it and as for my body I commend it to the Earth to be Buried in a Christian like & decent manner at the Discretion of my Executors nothing doubting but at the general resurrection I shall receive the same by the Mighty Power of God. And so touching such worldly Estate where= with it pleased God to bless me with in this life I give devise & Dispose of the same in the following manner of form, Impro it is my will & I do Order that in the first place all my Just Debts & Funeral charges be Paid & Satisfied
- Item I give to my Beloved son Sampson Sawyers five shillings sterling to him and his heirs forever
- Item I give to my beloved son James Sawyers five shillings sterling to him and his heirs forever
- Item I give to my beloved son John Sawyers five shillings sterling to him and his heirs forever
- Item I give to my beloved Daughter Rebeckah Sawyers all my household furniture, Plantation utentials, horses, cows, sheep, ______ [to] her and her heirs forever
- I also constitute and appoint my beloved Daughter to be my Executor and I Do hereby Disallow revoke & Disallow all and every other former Testaments wills legacies or Executors by me in any wise before this time Named willed or bequeathed Ratifying & Confirming this and no other to be my Last Will and testament in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the Day and Date above mentioned.
- (Signed) James X Sawyers (SEAL)
- Signed Sealed & Promised & Delivered) his
- By the said James Sawyers as his last) will and testament in Presence of us ) mark
- William Sterrett )
- Wm Armstrong )
- Wm Edmondson)
- Thos. Sawyers )
- At a courth held for Augusta County June 15th 1790
- This last Will and Testament of James Sawyers deceased and presented in court by Rebecca Sawyers his daughter the executor therein named and proved by the oaths of William Armstrong William Sterrat and William Edmondson three of the witnessess____ ____ is ordered to be recorded - And on the motion of the said Executor who made Oath according to law certificate is granted her for obtaining probate thereof in due form - she having entered with bond with security as the Law directs.
- Teste
- Ancestry.com
Parentage of James Sawyers, conflicting sources
James Sawyers is not a proven child of David Sawyers of Augusta County, Virginia. Some researchers have placed him as a son of Robert Sawyers and Catherine Harris, but Robert Sawyers did not name a son James in his will. Other researchers have placed him as a son of a James Sawyers (born in Maine) and Mary Babb, but records in Augusta County do not apparently show a James Sawyers old enough to have a child born of this James Sawyers age, and most researchers believe that the Sawyers family of early Augusta County migrated from Pennsylvania, not Maine.
James Sawyers clearly was living very nearby the family of David Sayers near Middle River River in Augusta County, in "Beverley Manor" (see Chalkley's records below), he had land transactions with Daniel McNair, who had land bordering William Sawyers, son of Robert, in Augusta County. More research is necessary to conclusively prove his parentage.
Records in Augusta County, VA
From Chalkley's:
- Vol. 2 - Muster List of 1742: No. 1 - Captain John Smith's List: John Smith, Captain; John Moffet, Lieutenant; William Anderson, Ensign; Daniel Daniston, Sergeant; Sam Hogshead, John Hogshead, Will Hogshead, Dan. McAnear, Math. Edmeston, John Finley, Walter Trimble, John Francis, Robert Ralston, John Young, Alex. Blair, Alex. Craig, Thomas Gillespy, And. Erwine, Benj. Erwine, John Erwine, Edw. Erwine, John Trimble, James Trimble, Rob. Moffett, James Wright, Rob. King, Jam. Armstrong, John Pattison, Jas. Lesley, Felix Kanady, Thomas Gordon, And. Mitchell, Jas. Robertson, Gabrl. Pickins, Rob. Leeper, Sam. Moore, John Miller, James Miller, Patr. Quine, Mat. Armstrong, John Ramsey, Dan. Daniston, Sam Northward, Rob. Renick, John Archer, Sampn. Archer, Jam.'s Sayers, Thos. McCulough, George Anderson, John Anderson, Rob. Poage, Rob. Patterson, Jas. Craford, Will Baskins.
- Page 20.--31st December, 1745. Daniel McEnaire (McNare)). Gent to James Trimble, surveyor, £22, 10 shillings Virginia money; 400 acres on a branch of James River called Burden's Creek. Witnesses, James Sayers, David Trimble, Silas Hart. Acknowledged by Daniel McNare and Hannah, his wife 11th February, 1745-6.
- Page 27.--11th February, 1745-6. Daniel McEnair, Gent., to Thomas Gardiner, "Sawer," £18 current money of Virginia; 165 acres on Jennings Creek, part of 400 acres granted to Daniel by patent. Witnesses, Silas Hart, Matt Edmiston, James Trimble. Acknowledged by Daniel and Hannah, his wife, 11th February, 1745-6. (Listed as record of Daniel McNair, who conveyed land to James Sawyers in 1756)
- Page 275.--26th May, 1747. Robert Renick, of Augusta, yeoman, to James Miles, farmer, £10; 201 acres on Buffalo's branch, part of the land Robert now lives on. Teste: James Sayers, Francis ( ) Gardner, James Trimble. Acknowleged, 17th June, 1747, by Robert, and dower released by Elizabeth.
- Page 360.--28th November, 1749. William Logan, blacksmith, to Silas Hart, mason, John Smith's land. Robert Brackenridge, Elizabeth, wife of William, 400 acres on North River, Shannadore. Corner land formerly John Smith's; now Silas Hart's. Patented to Robert Breckenridge, 1st December, 1740, and conveyed by him to William Logan, 22nd July, 1745. Teste: James Brown, Robert Renick, William Anderson, James Sayers.
- Page 439.--19th August, 1752. Daniel Gibson's appraisement, by Alex. Crawford, Andrew Foster, James Sayers.
- Page 499.--22d November, 1753. Adam Thompson, planter, and Elizabeth to John Richey, blacksmith, 100 acres in Beverley Manor. Cor. Alex. Richey, Wm. McNabb's land. Teste: Wm. Ackery, Andrew Scott, James Sayers.
- Page 241.--17th May, 1758. Rachel Bell's bond (with Jas. Sayers, Jno. Henderson) as guardian (chosen) to Mary Anne Bell, orphan of James Bell.
- Page 127.--4th September. 1761. Anthony Black's estate appraised by John Finley, James Savers, Daniel _____.
- Page 187.--5th October, 1762. John McCinney's estate appraised, by Jas. Sayers, Thos. Gardner, Wm. Magill.
- Page 389.--19th March, 1765. John Tumble's appraisement (by Jno. Finley, Jno. Trimble, Jas. Sayers), recorded--Two negroes, 2 bound servants; cash due by Henry Cresswell, Chas. Clendenning; to Jno. Price's service under the command of Capt. Wm. Christian, 184 days.
- Page 430.--21st October, 1765. Daniel McAnare and Hannah ( ) to Buchanan and Thompson, executors of Col. James Patton, £100, 390 acres on a branch of Woods River, part of a large tract patented to Col. James Patton; corner land of Wm. Sayers; corner Harman's land. Delivered: William Campbell, December, 1770. (Note: this record shows that William Sawyers, son of Robert Sawyers was nearby. This provides at least circumstantial evidence that James Sawyer was also a son of Robert, although James was not specifically listed in Robert's will. It is possible that since James was already of age, and had land before Robert died in 1746, that he had already provided for James).
- Page 446.--7th November, 1765. The widdow Wallace's (Saml. Wallace) estate appraised, by Jno. Trimble, Maurice O'Freel, Jas. Sawyers.
- Page 42.--7th July, 1768. David ( ) Stuart and Margaret to Alexander Stuart, their son, £50, 200 acres on a small branch of Middle River of Shanandore, James Sayers' line, oak near Buffalo Branch. Teste: John Poage, James Sayers, Andrew Moody. Delivered: Alexander Stuart (Stewart), November Court, 1773.
- Page 225.--15th August, 1769. James Sawyer's bond (with John Archer, Wm. Mathews) as administrator of George Brown.
- Page 361.--27th November, 1770. George Brown's estate in account with James Sawyers.
- Page 422.--20th March, 1781. Martha ( ) Gay, widow of Henry Gay, of Rockbridge, to Andrew Moody. Page 424.--Teste: James Sawyers, Samuel McCutchon, Jacob Patton.
Information on James Sawyers
http://www.geocities.com/garyw5678/JamesHannahSawyers.html
James Sawyers Jr. was born on Nov. 28, 1748 in Augusta Co., Virginia. His father was James Sawyers Sr. born in 1722 in the County of Tyrone, Ireland. He was a pioneer of August Co., Virginia, ived in forts most of his life and was near the Crawford family in Virginia (Page ?). He had a sister named Rebecca. He died in 1790 or 1791 in Augusta Co., Virginia. His will was proven on June 15, 1790 in Augusta Co., Virginia, giving his daughter Rachel his estate. His wife was Rachael Ball. Her father was Frederick Ball from Virginia. James and Rachael married and had five children born to them.
The first child born to James and Rachael was Sampson Sawyers. He was a revolutionary soldier, who died in 1817. He married to Mary McCaslin on Nov. 22, 1790. He married Agnes (?) and they had seven children; William Sawyers, Rachel Sawyers, Sampson Sawyers Jr., George M. Sawyers, James Sawyers, Thomas Sawyers, John Sawyers. Sampson remarried to Mary McCusland and they had four children; Rebecca Sawyers, Matthew Sawyers, Alexander Sawyers, and Archibald Sawyers.
George M. Sawyers married Rachel Rees and they had nine children; (300) John R. Sawyers, Carol Sawyers, Margret Sawyers, Sophia Sawyers, Thomas Sawyers, Nancy Ann Sawyers, William Sawyers, Sampson Sawyers, and Preston C. Sawyers.
The second child born to James and Rachael was James Sawyers Jr. born on Nov. 28, 1748 in Augusta Co., Virginia.
The third child born to James and Rachael was John Sawyers born in 1745. He was a Capt. and Col. in the American Revolution. He married to Rebecca Crawford and died on Nov. 20, 1831 in Knox Co., Tennessee. He was buried at the Washington Church Cemetery in Knox Co., Tennessee.
The fourth child born to James and Rachael was Rachael Sawyers born Apr. 30, 1750.
The fifth child born to James and Rachael was Rebecca Sawyers.
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