Person:Abraham Shepherd (2)

Records in Augusta County, VA

From Chalkley’s Augusta County Records:

• Vol. 2 - Boydstone vs. Sheppard--O. S. 69; N. S. 23. In 1757 Thomas Caton took up 196 acres on the Potomac and obtained patent from Fairfax. Caton sold to William Stork, who sold to Thomas Boydstone, orator, in 1767. In 1755 Vachael Metcalf obtained patent for a tract adjoining above which he conveyed to his brother, George Metcalf, from whom it descended to Allen Metcalf, heir of George. George's wife died 1803. Early in the 18th century the upper parts of Virginia were unknown and unsettled and many adventurers settled there, although the bounds of the Northern Neck were unknown whence arose dispute between Fairfax and the King, which was settled in 1745 and carried out by the Act of 1748, by which all persons were secured in their grants obtained from the Crown. Among the adventurers was the company of which Jest Hite was the head. They had obtained orders of Council for large tracts on condition of settling a certain number of persons thereon in a given time which, however, was frequently extended. On 12th June, 1734, a final order of Council was entered, giving the company until 25th December, 1735, to comply with terms of all former orders. Surveys were accordingly made, but no patents issued on account of caveats enter by Fairfax on his arrival in 1736. By the compromise between Fairfax and the King, Hite's Company were left entirely at the mercy of Fairfax for all lands for which patents had not been obtained, and in 1750 suit was brought by Hite's Company against Fairfax, in which in 1769 an interlocutory order was entered, in pursuance of which Thomas Marshall, and also Commissioners, made a report of the lands surveyed for Hite and of the persons by whom they were held. Copy deed dated 6th February, 1792, Thomas Boydstone of Berkley County to Joshua and John Writson Browning and Roseman Keating, all of Maryland. Recorded in Berkeley 21st February, 1792. Recites that John Browning, deceased, in his life time bought from Jost Hite 1,200 acres on Potomac in present Berkeley, then Orange, by title bond dated 6th November, 1736, which grantees are entitled to by several mesne devises under and from sd. John Browning. Anthony Turner deposes 13th February, 1798, that he came to Berkeley with his father, Anthony Turner, deceased, in 1740, when he was between eight and nine. He lived there until 1752, when he moved to New Castle, and made several moves before August, 1762, when he went to Carolina, remained there two years, returned to Virginia and in August, 1765, removed to North and South Carolina, made several other moves and is now living in Berkeley. In 1741-1742 Jeremiah Yorke was living on the land in controversy. John Hite, aged 43, deposes at same time as above. He is grandson of Jost Hite. Nicholas McIntire deposes 6th September, 1797, in Berkley: He has known the land (Terrapin Neck) upwards of 50 years. Jeremiah York and Van Swearingen were the first settlers. Presley Boydston, brother of Thomas and Benjamin Boydston, deposes. David Osborn deposes September, 1797: He was on the land first in 1766-67. Joseph Foreman deposes, that he knows the land since 1761. John Van Meter says he was born in Berkeley in the neighborhood of the land. John Welch, brother-in-law of Benj. Bordstone, deposes: He married a sister of Benjamin's wife. Thomas Boydstone is very old, without either wife or children. Jacob Bellar, born in 1736, moved with his father in 1742 on land adjoining Terrapin Neck. Defendants in this suit are, viz: Abraham Shepherd; Joshua and John Writson Browning; William Keating, Jr.; Thomas Sappington and Mary, his wife, late Keating; Richard Johnston and Sarah, late Keating; John and Mary and Sarah Williams, daughters and heirs of Rachel Williams, deceased, late Keating; heirs and representatives of Rozamond Keating, deceased, late Browning--also Benjamin Biggs and Priscilla Israel, his wife, late Priscilla Israel Metcalf; Benjamin Beaths and Margery, his wife, late Metcalf; George, John, Alien, Andrew, Thomas Metcalf. David Owens is son and heir of Lucy Owens, deceased, late Metcalf. Heirs, representatives and devisees of Allen Metcalf, deceased. Spa. addressed to Jefferson.

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 International Genealogical Index. ( The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint, 1999-2008).