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James Mays, of the Cowpasture, Augusta County, VA
b.Est 1690
Facts and Events
James Mays was one of the Early Settlers of Augusta County, Virginia
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Estate Records of James Mays
From Chalkley’s Augusta County Records:
- Page 169.--17th November, 1756. William May's bond (with Andrew Muldrough, Joseph Wahob) as administrator of James Mays, deceased.
- Page 191.--22d January, 1757. James Maze's appraisement, by Elijah McClenachan, Ralph Laverty, Adam Dickinson.
- Page 269.--27th January, 1757. James Mays' estate in account with William Mays, administrator.
Possible Record of James Mays in Orange County, VA
- Pg. 138-139. Know all men by these presents that I, James Marye, of Pennsylvania.. am bound to Edward Spencer of Orange County, Virginia.. full and just sum of 100 pounds current money of Virginia.. to be paid.. bind myself, my heirs.. by these presents... The condition is that.. James Mayre on 8 Oct 1741 was granted land by John Grimes, Esqr., and Francis Willis, Gent., Extrs. of Henry Willis, Gent., dec'd.. for 228 acres.. granted by John Grymes and Francis Willis (at the request of said James Marye) conveyed to William Mayre, an infant thereon of the said James Marye, by their deed dated 25 October 1741, and acknowledged.. the said James Marye having lately sold to Spencer for ₤50.. and received satisfaction for this.. This deed makes over and conveys to Spencer.. all interest conveyed by said John Grymes and Francis Willis, or in case.. Wm Marye shall depart this life before of lawful age.. conveyance to Edward Spences.. that then the heir at law.. William Marye make over to Edward Spencer.... (signed) James Marye (seal) Witnesses: William Waller, Geo. Taylor. Bond proved and recorded 25 June 1744. [Orange County Virginia Deed Book 9, Dorman, pg. 16].
(Note: it is thought that this record is possibly that of James Mays for the following reasons: 1) the spelling of Mayre and Mays/Mayes/Mayze can be somewhat similar on early handwritten documents, 2) there is an interesting coincidence since the land acquired was granted by (among others) a John Grymes; as listed below in Augusta County records, James Mays was a surety for the estate of a William Grymes, indicating a close relationship with that family, 3) William Marye is listed as an "infant" in 1741, no doubt the son of James, and coincidentally, the administrator of James Mays estate in November 1756, was his son William, who would have still been underage in 1741, as the William Marye was in the above-listed record).
Records in Augusta County, VA
From "A Centennial History of Alleghany County, Virginia" by Oren F. Morton, Chapter III:
- The first official recognition of any settlers in this region was in February, 1745, when the court of Orange appointed James Mayse a constable for the lower Cowpasture and the neighboring districts. The same court, May 23, 1745, instructed John Lewis to list "all the Inhabitants of the Cow and Calf pastures and the Settlers back of the same."
From Chalkley’s Augusta County Records:
- Vol. 1 - MAY 21, 1747. - (198) Saml. Delap appd. Constable, vice Nath. McClure; John Spear, Constable, vice Jno. Trimble; James Galespy, Constable, vice Wm. Wright; Ro. Ramsey, Constable, vice Thos Black; Alexr. McCroskie, Constable, vice Charles Hays; John Erwin, Constable, vice James Hogshead; James Hogart and Wallace Ashton, Constables, vice James Maies; Thos. Cohoon and David Miller, Constables, on Roan Oke; Archd. Hamilton and David Stevenson, Constables, vice Danl. Deniston; James Slone, Constable, vice James Hony; Geo. Draper, Peter Rentfro and James Cohoon, Constables, vice Humb. Lyon; John Ramsey, Constable, vice Wm. Guy; James Beard and John Maggot, Constables, vice Adam Miller; Andrew Scot, Constable, vice John Ramsey; John Campbell, Constable, vice Ro. Givin; John Leath, Constable, vice Elisha Job; Valentine Sevear, Constable, vice Wm. Carroll; John States, Constable, vice James Robinson; Ro. Montgomerie and John McClintin, Constables, vice Wm. Scot.
- Page 115.--16th February, 1748. Jane Grimes' bond as administratrix of William Grymes, with sureties John Graham, James Mays.
- Vol. 1 - MAY 23, 1750. - (371) Road ordered from Ezekiel Calhoun's to Wood's River thence to Top of Ridge between Wood's River and the South Fork of Roanoke. John McFarland and Joseph Crockett to be surveyors of former, and Wm. Crisp and Wm. Pellam, of latter part, with tithables, and the following: Henry Batton, Mordecai Early, John McFarland, Jacob Goldman, John Downing, John Goldman, Charles Sinclair, Nathaniel Wilshire, Wm. Sayers, Jacob Goldman, Wm. Hamilton, Humbertson Lyon, Frederick Carlock, Robert Norris, James Miller, James Cave, Saml. Montgomerie, Steven Lyon, John Conley, Andrew Linam, James Willbey, Saml. Stanlick, James Maies, Robert McFarlin, James Harris, John Vance, John Stride, Robert Miller, Alexr. Sayers, John Miller, Jacob Castle, Robert Alcorn, John Forman, Wm. Miller.
- Vol. 1 - MAY 30, 1751. - (585) James Mays publishes his intention of leaving the Colony for Carolina with several horses, and Court certifies that he is a freeholder and has behaved himself honestly.
- Vol. 1 - AUGUST 24, 1752. - (347) James Mays vs. Charles Whitaker } Deft. having informed the Court that the plt. had employed both the attornies practising at this court, has Gabriel Jones assigned him.
- Vol. 1 - NOVEMBER, 1756 (A). - Patrick Davis, assignee of John McCapen, vs. Ralph Laverty.--Assignee of John McCapen and Elizabeth, his wife, late Elizabeth Watson. Bond by James Mais, Cooper, and Ralph Laverty, to Elizabeth Watson, dated 7th September, 1747.
- Vol. 1 - NOVEMBER 23, 1756. - (270) James Mays, Sr.--suit abates by his death.
James Mays Killed by Indians in 1756
From "The Annals of Bath County: The Families of Greater Bath", by Oren F. Morton:
- 1755 - British General Braddock led his army to a crushing defeat against the French and their Indian allies at Fort Duquesne (present Pittsburgh, PA), in 1755. The entire frontier was left defenseless and exposed to Indian depredation. The red warriors, flushed with triumph at their easy victory against the British proceeded to assault the frontier with fire and tomahawk. The area of Bath County, Virginia suffered severely. "Fort Dickinson and Fort Lewis were both assaulted. In September 1756, thirteen persons were killed around Fort Dinwiddie, including John Byrd, James Mayse, James Montgomery, George Kinkead, and Nicholas Carpenter.
Additional information on the Indian Attack of 1756 can be found in the following article:
Indian Attacks of 1755-1758 in Augusta County, VA
Information on James Mays
From Rootsweb.com post:
Children of James and Jean Mays:
- 1. Jane Mays married Grymes (Note: other sources have her marrying William Graham).
- 2. Esther Mays b 1721 (Note: Esther was born prior to 1712, based upon her first marriage date). died 8-21-1756 married 1st Robert Burnside 2nd Archibald Clendenin
- 3. Joseph Mays Sr b 1722 died 4-1-1787 Augusta Co Va died 4-1-1787 married Rebecca Lewis 6-2-1750 Augusta Co Va
- 4. William Mays b 1723 married Margaret
- 5. James Mays b 1724 married Mary
- 6. Richard Mays b 1726 married Nancy
- 7. Sarah Mays b 1728
- 8. Robert Mays b 1731 married Elizabeth Bolling
- 9. John Mays Sr b 1733-1740
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