Person:John Gay (45)

John Gay was one of the Early Settlers of Augusta County, Virginia

Contents 1 Advisory on Gay Family of Augusta County, VA 2 Early Land Acquisition in Augusta County, VA 3 Will of John Gay 4 Information on John Gay of the Calfpasture		Welcome to Old Augusta Early Settlers Beverley Manor Borden's Grant Register Data Maps Places Library History Index
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Advisory on Gay Family of Augusta County, VA

Caution! There are many errors in research of the Gay family of Augusta County, Virginia. It is highly suggested that the following source be consulted before any changes are made to this family.

Gay Families of Augusta and Rockbridge Counties, Virginia Author(s): Robert H. Montgomery Source: The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 59, No. 2 (Apr., 1951), pp. 195-215 Published by: Virginia Historical Society

Another excellent source for information on the family of this John Gay is the "The Surname Gay" website of John B. Robb: http://johnbrobb.com/JBR-GAY-sur.htm#John2Gay

Early Land Acquisition in Augusta County, VA

John Gay acquired land in the "Little Calfpasture" area of Augusta County, Virginia, between 1742 and 1747. His land was adjoining the land of his brother, James. Records of John Gay's deed in early Augusta County records have not been located, however his land is referenced in the records of other nearby records.

Will of John Gay

• Page 492.--18th August, 1775. John Gay's will, of the Calfpasture--To wife, Jean; to daughter, Agness; to son, John; to daughter, Mary; to daughter, Jean; to daughter, Elizabeth. Executors, Robert Dunlap, Samuel Ramsey, James Crockett. Teste: The executors. Proved, 18th March, 1777, by Dunlap and Crockett. Samuel Ramsey to be summoned whether he will execute, and on 20th May, 1777, Ramsey refuses. Administration granted John and Jane Gay, who qualify.

• His estate was appraised by Robert Dunlap, James Stevenson, James Elliott for a total of about 600 pounds, including nine slaves (Augusta Records).

Information on John Gay of the Calfpasture

JOHN GAY OF THE CALFPASTURE

John Gay, named as brother in the will of William Gay, the decedent of 1755, died after August 18, 1775, date of his own will and before March I8, 1777, date of its proof. He was in Virginia prior to February 19, 1746-7, when with Henry Gay and William Elliott he was appointed to take Robert Crockett's Inventory (Chalkley, I, 25). In the same year, I747, he signed the petition of Inhabitants of Little River in Calfpasture for a road. He is on overseer Smith's list with Wm. Guy, Rob. Gay, Sam'l Guy and others "in Calfpasture," May 1752 (Chalkley, I, 50).

On March 20, 1755, he filed a bond as guardian of the orphans of Robt. Crockett, dec'd, John Ramsey and James Boreland, sureties (Chalkley, III, 38). He appears several other times as a witness to deeds, appraiser, surety and executor of his brother's will. Other Calfpasture names are linked with him in these appearances. A significant one and the last I have found before his will is as surety for John Ramsey, June I9, I764 (Chalkley, III, 85). 

His land lay next to the land James Gay bought of Beverley in 1747 (Chalkley, II, i62). He is, I think, the John Gay who in 1762 was sued on a bond of Robert Gay and John Gay to Robert Culbertson of Pennsylvania, dated March 22, 1755 (Chalkley, I, 37).

18th August, 1775. John Gay's will of the Calfpasture - To wife Jean; to daughter Agness; to son John; to daughter Mary; to daughter Jean; to daughter Elizabeth. Executors, Robert Dunlap, Samuel Ramsey, James Crockett. Teste: The executors. Proved i8th March, 1777, by Dunlap and Crockett. Samuel Ramsey to be summoned whether he will execute and on 20th May, 1777, Ramsey refuses. Administration c.c.a. granted to Jane and John Gay same day (Chalkley, III, 389).

His estate was appraised by Robert Dunlap, James Stevenson, James Elliott for a total of about 600 pounds, including nine slaves (Augusta Records).

The family tradition, accepted by Boutwell Dunlap, is that John married Jane Ramsey. (Letter of Jennie E. Rapp to Mrs. Carrie H. Whitman, February 25, 1916, based as she writes on a paper dictated by the former's Aunt Margaret, "many years ago.") See Morton, Rockbridge, 486.

Children of John' Gay and Jane (Ramsey) Gay, in order of mention in his will:

(I) Agness. Of her I find no other mention. (2) John2 (Johnl), known as Major John Gay. Of him below. (3) Mary. Of her I find no other mention. (4) Jean, married, according to family tradition (Rapp letter above), accepted by Boutwell Dunlap and Morton, Humphrey Montgomery, who died at Collierstown, Va., near Lexington about 1799. Date of her death unknown. Six children and many descendants. Her first child was b. 1781. (5) Elizabeth. She, I think, is the Elizabeth Gay who was married to Alex. Brown, Aug. 19, 1784 by Rev. John Brown (Rockbridge Marriages, 1782-1830; Morton, Rockbridge, 486).