Person:James Russell (107)

James Russell, who was born near Duck Run in western Frederick County, Virginia, was married twice. His first wife was a daughter of John Laurence, who lived on "the branches of Hog's Creek". Her given name is not known. She and James had a son John who was born about 1778, and she may have died in childbirth. In about 1780 James married Jemima. Her surname is not known. No record of either marriage has been located. With Jemima, James had daughter Lydia who in 1803 married Henry Richards. Henry and Lydia Richards had eight children, including James Russell Richards on May 31, 1806 and Moses R. Richards in 1818. A transcription of James' last will and testament is in Note 1 and a summary is included below.

1777 - Will of William Russell of Duck Run devises to son James Russell the 100 acres where he then lived on Duck Run and the "fulling mill".

1778, Sept. 23 - Peter Spengler of Shenandoah County sold 325 acres on the west side of the North River to James Russell of Frederick County. James sold the land on October 30, 1782, part to Andrew Capp and part to Nicholas Dull. [Source: p. 15, Vol. 1 (1772-1784), Shenandoah County, Virginia deed book series, by Amelia Cleland Gilreath.]

1779 - Will of John Lawrence, which showed that he was of Frederick County and that his wife was Jean. He gave $10 to each unnamed daughter; he referred to a deceased daughter who was the wife of James Russell. [Source: abstract furnished by the late George Ely Russell, who cited Frederick County Will Book 1, page 3.][Notes about John Lawrence: 1766 deed from Lord Fairfax to a John Lawrence for 208 acres of land on the branches of Hog's Creek (sic, Hogue Creek), per survey of John Maury, with reference to "a corner of his other land" and to "John White's line". This property is probably near where Gap Run enters Hogue Creek; it is about 5 or 6 miles northeast of the Russell property on Duck Run.]

1781, March 28 - Grant of 280 acres of land by the Proprietor Lord Fairfax to James Russell of Shendandoah County, assignee of Conrad Pinter assignee of Adam Holber Assignee of George Shoemaker a tract of land on both sides of Narrow Passage Run bounded by a John Hough survey, described by metes and bounds, with a reference to the foot of Little North Mountain

1782 - Frederick County tax lists: no James Russell.

1783 - Shenandoah County tax list: there is a James Russell on p. 27.

1785 - Shenandoah County tax lists: James Russell 8 1 2 is on three different tax lists - Abraham Bird's, Samuel Porter's and John Anderson's. This is perhaps because of James' ownership of tracts of land in different parts of the county, and may suggest that he has hired someone to run the fulling mill.

1789, Sept. 24 - James Russell of Shenandoah County sold a tract of 280 acres on Narrow Passage Run, at the foot of Little North Mountain, to Leonard Hart. The sale transaction was in the lease/release form. James and Jemima Russell signed the documents. [Source: p. 100, Vol. 2 (1784-1792), Shenandoah County, Virginia deed book series, by Amelia Cleland Gilreath.]

1790 - federal census has been lost.

1791 - Frederick County Tax List B by James White: James Russell 1(whites above 16) 0 0 1(horses).

1794, April 12 - Philip Pear assigned to James Russell a survey dated September 9, 1791 for 200 acres on the south side of Cedar Creek in Shenandoah County "which Alexander Machir purchased of John Yoho".

1794, Dec. 17 - A 90 acre survey was done for James Russell, assignee of Nicholas Albert, on the northwest side of Cedar Creek, in Shenandoah County; the survey referred to the corner to Henry Finley and Isaac Zane and "in line of the land which said Russell purchased of Alexander Machir".

1796, June 8 - Deed to James Russell of 200 acres referred to above in April 12, 1794; the deed mentioned the South Side of Ceader (sic, Cedar) Creek; a corner to Philip Pears 170 acre tract; and Alexander Machir's purchase from John Yoho.

1797, April 11 - Deed by James and Jemima Russell to Foltz. [Source: Shenandoah County Deed Book K, page 500 per George Ely Russell in Nov. 2008.]

1798, Nov. 15 - Deed to James Russell for 44 acres of Shenandoah County land, with reference to the survey of December 17, 1794; the tract was described as on "the drains of Cedar Creek" and "in a Gap of the Mountain called Seller's Gap"; corner to Philip Pear.

1798, Nov. 16 - Deed to James Russell for 90 acres of Shenandoah County land described in December 17, 1794 survey.

1799, January 4 - Deed to Philip Pear for 63 acres of Shenandoah County land, with reference to Dec. 17, 1794 survey; the 63 acres are "on the north side of Cedar Creek adjoining his said Land where he now lives"; James Russell's late survey; Josiah Jenkins Land; and "Land which said Russell purchased from Alexander Machir."

1799, January 9 - Deed to James Russell for 90 acres of Shenandoah County land described in December 17, 1794 survey. This deed appears to duplicate that of November 16, 1798.

1799, Oct. 24 - Deed to Henry Finley for 75 acres of Shenandoah County land; references to survey of March 6, 1798; the acreage is on Cedar Creek next to "said Finley's other land" and is "corner to James Russell".

1800 - Frederick County tax list B: James Russell 1 1 1 3 tax 1.24. Federal census lost.

1808, May 9 - Deed by James and Jemima Russell of Frederick County of land in Shenandoah County to Becker. [Source: Shenandoah County Deed Book R, page 342 per George Ely Russell in Nov. 2008.]

1809, May 12 - James made his Will this day. [Source: Frederick County Will Book 11, pp. 218-220.] He first provided for his wife Jemima (who appears to have died before the 1810 census). He asked that his live stock be cared for by his son-in-law Henry Richards (who had married James' daughter Lydia). To his son John he gave various Shenandoah County land (e.g. three adjoining small surveys James had purchased from George Rinker, Godfrey Taylor and James Fridley); a tract he had purchased from John Gelz; a tract on Narrow Passage Creek he had purchased from George Hofman); 100 acres in Rockingham County purchased from Christopher Young; and two adjoining surveys in Hardy County he had purchased from George Ryan and William Finley. James bequeathed four adjoining surveys totaling 600 acres in Shenandoah County on the head waters of Cedar Creek to son-in-law Richards, and also to Richards the 100 acres in Frederick County where James was living that he had received via his father William Russell's Will. This was the acreage with the fulling mill. James also gave Richards 8 acres that James had bought from his brother Moses Russell. James made a $50 bequest to the boy Henry who was living with him, and James gave his son John the bequest from John Lawrence to James's first wife, which had not yet been paid. Henry Richards was appointed Executor. Witnesses were John Richards and Elias Kackley.

1810 - census Frederick County, Virginia - p. 655: Lawrence Garrett; John Richards; Henry Richards (married to Lydia Russell); Jacob Wolfe Senr; James Russell (10001/00000); William Baylis; David H. Wilson; there is no Moses Russell on this page, and no John Russell. The enumeration for James Russell shows him 45+ and the John male is surely the boy Henry mentioned in James' Will; there is no older woman so Jemima must have passed away.

1818, Dec. 1 - James Russell and Joseph and John B. Dyson were witnesses to the Will of Elias Kackley. James Russell and Joseph Dyson appeared in Court on May 31, 1819 to offer proof of the making of Elias Kackley's Will.

1820 - census Frederick County, Virginia: There is no James Russell listed near John or Moses Russell or Henry Richards, and there is no "extra" old man living with John or Moses or Henry. James seems to have died after May 31, 1819 and before the 1820 census.

1822, Feb 4 - James Russell's 1809 Will was proved by witness John Richards, witness Elias Kackley being deceased. It appears that James died before 1820.

1.   TRANSCRIPTION OF JAMES RUSSELL'S WILL OF MAY 12, 1809
   
   James Russell's Will [beginning on Frederick County, Virginia Will Book 11, p. 218]
   
   In the Name of God Amen: I James Russell of Frederick County and State of Virginia being weak in body but of sound mind & memory (for which I thank God) and calling to mind the uncertainty of human life and being desirous to dispose of such worldly estates as it hath pleased God to endure and will – I give and bequeath the same in manner following, that is to say: I give and bequeath to my wife Jemima Russell all & singular my personal estate which is at this time in our possession, the living stock which I desire to be kept at the cost and expense of our respected Son in Law Henry Richards and that my son John Russell pay unto him yearly on the first day of May during her natural life the sum of thirty dollars as an additional support for my wife. Item 2nd. I give and bequeath to my son John the following tracts of Land Viz: three small surveys in Shenandoah County adjoining [each] other the whole containing about four hundred acres which I bought of George Rinker Godfrey Taylor and James Fridley; another Tract in said County which I bought of John Gelz; another tract in said County on Narrow Passage Creek which I bought of George Hofman also one hundred acres of Land in Rockingham County that I bought of Christopher Young and two other surveys adjoining in Hardy County I bought of George Ryan and William Finley the above mentioned tracts of Land with their appurtenances I will and [p. 219] bequeath my said son John Russell and his Heirs. Item 3rd. I will and bequeath to my respected Son in Law Henry Richards four adjoining surveys in Shenandoah on the head waters of Cedar Creek containing about six hundred acres also his Division of Land in Frederick County containing one hundred acres which was conveyed to me by my Fathers Will and whereon I now Live and also one other adjoining survey containing only about eight acres which piece I bought of my Brother Moses Russell. It is my Will and desire that after the decease of me and my wife that all funeral and other just debts be immediately paid by our said Son in Law that all and every part of the remaining property should be his except that he my said Son in Law collects out of money owing me at the this time or may so remain the sum of fifty dollars which desired him to pay to a child (Henry) who has lived with me several years as my own if he do live to attain the age of twenty-three years with the Legacies arising therefrom from my decease to said time of payment. It is further my Will and desire that my Son John have all the use & benefits of the collection [of] any debts of mine I have heretofore put in his hand and then he do make a conveyance for a tract of Land directly agreeable to my Title Bond given to Thomas Kerns? Senr [of] Shenandoah County where the condition of said Bond is performed on their part. I also desire my son John to have a right to receive any Gift or Legacy willed to his mother my Former wife by her father John Laurence as I never have received any such Legacy. I further will and desire hat my Son in Law Henry Richards have a right to collect and receive all debts at this time justly due or that may hereafter become due to me and also all rights and benefits of any gift or Legacy that is due or may descend to me or mine from the Last Will & Testament of my father William Russell and Lastly I do make constitute and confirm this to be my Last Will and testament. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this twelfth day of May and in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and nine. /s/ James Russell [seal]
   
   Signed, sealed, published & declared as and for the Last will & testament of the above named James Russell in presence of /s/ John Richards /s/ Elias Kackley
   
   [p. 220] At a Court held for Frederick County the 4th day of February 1822 this Last Will & Testament of James Russell decd was proved by the oath of John Richards a Witness thereto and Elias Kackley the other witness thereto being decd the signature of the said Elias Kackley was proved by the oaths of John Richards and John Kackley and ordered to be recorded by the Court. Jn Keith C.F.C.
2.   Henry Hoover's 1813 Will mentioned "land purchased of James Russell". [Source: Kangas & Payne's 1795-1816 Fred. Co. VA Wills and Admins.] An 1815 survey for John Snider and Nathan Dillon spoke of the "lines of James Russell, John Wright and others" on the northwest side of Little No. Mountain.
3.   See: Duck Run (Frederick Co., VA) Research Guide.