Person:Willliam Mitchell (1)

Research notes

William B. Mitchell first appears in the Lancaster County, VA land records in 1818, after the death of his father, Richard Mitchell.

In 1817, father Richard Mitchell was taxed for three parcels of land:

1. 577 acres (inherited from his uncle Richard Mitchell who d. 1781)
2. 277 acres (first taxed to Richard Mitchell in 1812)
3. 92 acres (first taxed to Richard Mitchell in 1811)

23 OCT 1815 - Richard Mitchell’s Lancaster County, VA will devised to his son William B. Mitchell “... my land and plantation on Morattico Creek [and] also my land and plantation whereon I now live by name of Deep Creek ...” He bequeaths him slaves Ned, Charles, Shadrock, Judy, Cris and Nancy, and directs him to pay his (Richard’s) grandchildren Feriol Lemoine, Moro [Moreau] Lemoine and Josephine Lemoine the sum of $500 each within the period of 18 months from his date of death. Will proven in 1817.

1818 - William B. Mitchell is taxed in Lancaster County for 2 tracts, 577 acres and 277 acres. [Note: The third 92 acre tract previously belonging to his father is not found among his holdings and thus far no deed has been found disposing of it.]

FROM 1823 TO 1842 - There are numerous deeds to and from William B. Mitchell beginning on 12 June 1823 and ending on 06 May 1842. In total, 18 transactions, excluding a lot of land at Morattico that was awarded to his children 18 Nov 1834 through the estate of their maternal uncle James W. Downman who died intestate in Oct 1834. [Lancaster County Appeals and Land Causes 1824-1841, 225-231, 235-236, 224-276]

[Note: None of the 19 real estate deeds (including deeds of trust) sell or buy the property at Litwalton, although his will leaves his Ridgefield Farm to his son Richard B. Mitchell, but again, only that portion north of the “old road to Marritco”. None of the deeds mentions the “Litwalton Enterprise” that is now the Brewer property.]

The deeds in Lancaster, VA are as follows:

1. 12 Jun 1823. To William B. Mitchell from Richard Nutt. Settles a land boundary dispute between the two along Deep Creek. [DB 26:602]
2. 28 Apr 1824. To William B. Mitchell from John Dunaway. 5 acres and a house where Dunaway now lives for $10. On West Side of public road leading from cross roads near Dunoways’s house to Col. James Ball’s land, on Mill Swamp. [DB 33:25]
3. 10 Mar 1826. To William B. Mitchell from Overton Carpenter. 33.5 acres. [DB 33:105]
4. 10 Mar 1826. From William B. Mitchell and Margaret his wife, to Overton Carter. 20.5 acres. [DB 33:108]
5. 12 Jan 1827. To William B. Mitchell from Joseph Carter and Samuel C. Tapscott, commissioners, 120 acres for land in estate of Ann Oldham, dec’d. [DB 33:147]
6. 19 May 1834. To William B. Mitchell from James Ball, administrator with will annexed of James Ball. 60 acres on Deep Creek and Mud Creek. [DB 34:218] [Note: Will of William B. Mitchell later devises this land to his son Julius W. Mitchell along with land he bought from ---- Robinson, in right of his wife, making 230 acres in all.]
7. 07 Mar 1835. From William B. Mitchell to William Jones, release. [DB 34:300] [Note: Not examined]
8. 15 Jan 1836. From William B. Mitchell to James Chinn, deed of trust. Land called “Epping Forest” containing 1116 acres. [DB 34:369]
9. 15 Jan 1836. To William B. Mitchell from John L. Chinn. “Epping Forest”. [DB 34:371] [Note: Will of William B. Mitchell later devises this land to son William L.G. Mitchell as “... part of same tract I purchased of John L. Chinn and all that lies on south side of road leading from Dunnoways and Peirce’s line on the Northumberland & Corrotoman Road (modern day White Chapel Road), from Lively to River Road, excepting what I already gave him per deed (see #14 below), containing by estimation 10xx to 1200 acres.” This is the homeplace of Mary Ball, mother of George Washington. The land is along Morratico Road, between Nuttsville and Rt 3 (Mary Ball Highway) to Lively. It is still privately owned property. Will of William B. Mitchell also devised to his son Julius W. Mitchell “... the remaining part of the land I purchased from John L. Chinn now called “Osceala” on North Side of road dividing it from Ballington on the west and east side of the road gong from Corrotoman to Northumberland, 150 acres.”]
10. 24 Nov 1835. From William B. Mitchell to Joseph W. Chinn, trustee; deed of trust. “Eight hundred acres of land called Ridgefield devised by my father.” To secure debt owed to Rawleigh W. Downman in the sum of $2,000; bond dated 18 Nov 1835. All land leading from Ball’s Mill to Deep Creek and OLD road from Litwalton to Morattico, with houses, orchards, reversions, rents etc. [DB 34:378] [Note: This excludes the “Litwalton Enterprise” property. The property devised to him by his father is Deep Creek and another tract in Morattico. It did not devise him Ridgefield. The physical boundary known as “Deep Creek” is several miles South of Litwalton.]
11. 23 Nov 1837. To William B. Mitchell from John E. Watts and wife. 96 acres in Nuttsville. [DB 39:70]
12. 29 Nov 1839. To William B. Mitchell from John B. Downman, executor of will of Rawleigh W. Downman. Plantation known as “Cyrus’s”, 147 acres on the road from Nuttsville to Deep Creek, bound by lands of Bewdly, Deep Creek, Neeham, Holliday and others. Witnessed by George W. Downman, Richard B. Mitchell, Rob’t Mitchell. Recorded 18 Jan 1841. [DB 39:219] Note: 1843 will of William B. Mitchell later devises this land to son Robert J. Mitchell “... with exception of what I sold to William O. Rains, in addition to what I have him (See #15 below) making in all 400 acres.”
13. 17 Feb 1840. From William B. Mitchell to William O. Rains. [DB 39:123] [Note: Not examined]
14. 01 Jan 1841. From William B. Mitchell to [son] William L.G. Mitchell. Deed of gift. [DB 39:221] [Note: Not examined]
15. 01 Jan 1841. From William B. Mitchell to [son] Robert J. Mitchell. Deed of gift. [DB 39:222] [Note: Not examined]
16.  ?? ??? ????. From William B. Mitchell to Samuel C. Tapscott. [DB 39:299] Land swap on road from Litwalton to Nuttsville. Small tracts. Deeds copied, platted and on file.
17.  ?? ??? ????. To William B. Mitchell from Samuel C. Tapscott. [DB 39:300] Land swap on road from Litwalton to Nuttsville. Small tracts. Deeds copied, platted and on file.
18. 06 May 1842. To William B. Mitchell from Nelson Robinsson and Frances J. Robinson his wife. For $450. 50 acres on head waters of Deep Creek, beginning at a branch on line of Belle Isle, to the center of the road, then up the road a North Easter “coast” about 80 poles, to some pines on the North Side of the road, thence between the pines adj. to William Hutching, said Mitchell (“another tract”), and S. C. Tapscott. Not witnessed. Proved by justices of the Peace George W. Downman and Richard B. Mitchell. [DB 39:1842]

25 JAN 1843 - William B. Mitchell writes his will and leaves to his five sons “jointly and equally” the “Litwalton Establishment” described as "... the lot or lots being between the old and new roads and between the lands devised to [sons] Richard, Julius and Littleton with its various buildings viz: store house, granary, mechanick’s shops, small dwellings gardens etc.” [Lancaster Co., VA WB 29:26-28). The lands he left to the sons mentioned here were on the North and West (son Richard, to whom he left Ridgefield Farm), South (lands he left to Julius) and the East (lands left to son Littleton). Together, these four tracts comprised all but the North East corner of the intersection of modern day Morratico Road and River Road (Rts. 622 and 354).

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 Mitchell Family loose File, Mary Ball Washington Library, Lancaster, VA..
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} Will of William B. Mitchell, dated 25 January 1843, proved 20 March 1843. Will Book 29, pp. 26-28, Lancaster C.
3.   KVGS-BM3, in FamilySearch Family Tree
   [includes source records], last accessed 29 Apr 2018.