Person:John Seawright (2)

Watchers
John Seawright
b.Abt 1717 Northern Ireland
d.Aft 17 Feb 1784 Virginia
m. Bef 1717
  1. John SeawrightAbt 1717 - Aft 1784
  • HJohn SeawrightAbt 1717 - Aft 1784
  • WSarah LeeperAbt 1723 - 1794
  1. George Gavin Seawright1740 - Abt 1783
  2. Margaret SeawrightAbt 1742 - 1829
  3. James SeawrightAbt 1744 - 1790
  4. Polly SeawrightBef 1755 - 1830
  5. Jane Seawright1758 - 1822
  6. Anne Seawright1760 -
Facts and Events
Name John Seawright
Gender Male
Birth? Abt 1717 Northern Ireland
Marriage to Sarah Leeper
Death? Aft 17 Feb 1784 Virginia

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

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Early Land Acquisition in Augusta County, VA

Image:SeawrightJohnBeverleyNE413acres.jpg

John Seawright's land (Beverley Manor NE, 413 acres, 1740) as shown on the map meticulously drawn by J.R. Hildebrand, cartographer. This map is copyrighted©, used by permission of John Hildebrand, son of J.R. Hildebrand, April, 2009.


Acquisition of Land from Orange County, Virginia Records:


  • Pages 96-99. 23-24 July 1740. William Beverley, Esqr., of Essex County to John Seawright of Orange County. Lease and release; for ₤12.10. - current money. 413 acres... James Anderson's line... (signed) W. Beverley. Wit: John Hart, Wm. Johnston, James McClur. 24 July 1740. Acknowledged by William Beverley, Gent. [Relinquishment of dower as above, Beverley to Page.]. [Orange County Deed Book 4, pg. 41]
  • Pages 59-62. 25-26 Aug. 1742. Joseph Stover of Orange County to John Seawright of same. Lease and release; for ₤20 current money. 100 acres in that part of Orange County called Augusta on a branch of the North River of Shanando called Naked Creek... corner to William King... (signed) Joseph (I) Stover. Wit: Zach. Taylor, Wm. Phillips, Henry Downs. 26 Aug. 1742. Acknowledged by Joseph Stover. [Orange County Deed Book 8, pg. 70]


Disposition of Land from Orange County, VA Records:


  • Pg. 16-18. Indenture 24 Nov. 1743 between John Seawright of County of Augusta and John Thompson of same... for Five shillings... sells 413 acres of land in Augusta County... bounded... Revd. James Anderson... (signed) John Seawright (Seal). Witnesses: Catlett Conway, Silas Hart, John Pickins. Lease acknowledged & recorded 24 Nov. 1743. Payment of ₤40 money of Pennsylvania. Release acknowledged. [Orange County Deed Book 9, pg. 3].
  • Pg. 18-21. Indenture 24 Nov. 1743 between John Seawright of County of Orange, Carpenter, and James Seeper, of county aforesd, Blacksmith... for five shillingslll sold 400 acres of land being in that part of Orange called Augusta... on a branch of the North River at Shanando called Naked Creek.. and bounded... James Cathey... John Seawright... Hen. Downs.. (signed) John Seawright (seal). Witnesses: Henry Downs, Thos. Downer. Lease and Release recorded Orange County. Payment of ₤20, 24 Nov. 1743. Know all men by these presents that I, John Seawright, of the Colony of Virginia, and County of Augusta, do grant... 200 acres of land unto James Seeper of aforesaid, being part of 400 acres granted by patent to Joseph Stover, and said Pattent remaining of record in the office of this Colony... the said Joseph Stover did give unto John Seawright... 400 acres as may appear by record in the office at Orange... and now the said John Seawright grants... 200 acres as part of the sd 400 acres of land... bounded North side of Naked Creek of branch of Shanando River to James Seeper for ₤18.15.0... (signed) John Seawright (Seal). Witnesses: James Cathey, Henry Downs, Thomas Downer. Recorded Orange County, 24 November 1743. On Margin: "Exd. and Deld. to Jno. Bramham ye 5th day of June 1745" [Orange County Deed Book 9, pg. 3].


Disposition of Land from Chalkley's:


  • John Seawright sold his tract in "Beverley Manor" to John Thompson on 24 November 1743, as listed in the Chalkley's records below.
  • Page 368.--14th November, 1768. John Seawright and Sarah to Hugh Campbell, Jr., £15, 126 acres on North Branch of Naked Creek, part of 188 acres.

Will of John Seawright

  • Page 1. — John Searight's will, dated, 17th February, 1784 — Wife, Sarah; son, James; daughter, Anne Seawright; nephew, John Seawright; niece, Margaret Seawright.


Records of John Seawright in Augusta County, VA

  • Page 608.—27th February, 1749. William Wright to William Beverley, 413 acres. Corner John Seawright, George Hutchison's line. Teste: James Henderson, Andrew McClure.
  • Page 222.—28th December, 1749. William Magill's appraisement, by John Seawright, John Erwin, Charles Campbell. Cash by Hugh Dever and Hugh Ross.
  • Page 262.—21st June, 1763. Margaret Leeper's bond (with Saml. Henderson, Jno. Seawright) as administratrix of Jas. Leeper.
  • May 23, 1765. John Seewright and Samuel Henderson ask counter security from Margaret Leeper, Administratrix of husband James Leeper
  • Page 443.—22d October, 1765. Margaret Leeper's settlement, recorded of estate of James Leeper—Paid to the heirs, viz: To Isiah Curry, Andrew Leeper, Wm. McMullen, Geo. Leeper, Jno. Seawright, Nicholas Leeper, Jno. Leeper, Margaret Leeper, Jr., Saml. Henderson, Jas. Leeper, Jr., in his life time.
  • Page :'.(!S.—11th November, 1768. John Seawright and Sarah to Hugh Campbell, Jr., £15, 126 acres on North Branch of Naked Creek, part of 188 acres.
  • Pnge 49.—20th November, 1770. John Leeper to John Seawright, 40 shilling?. 43 acres on Naked Creek, part of 400 acres patented to Joseph Stover, 1st December. 1740. part of tract on which Seawright now lives; corner John .Seawright. Delivered: Jno. Seawright, March, 1773.
  • Page 156.—16th March, 1773. Robert Thompson and Agness, James Thompson and Rebecca ( ), to Zachariah Johnston, 400 acres in Beverley Manor, conveyed by Beverley to John Seawright, and by him to John Thompson, 24th November, 1743; John Thompson dying intestate, land descended to his son Thomas, his heir-at-law, who conveyed 200 acres to his brother Robert, and devised 200 acres by his will, 25th March, 1760, to said James Thompson.

CHRONICLES OF THE SCOTCH-IRISH SETTLEMENT OF VIRGINIA; Vol 2, pp 170 – 179 by Lyman Chalkley

  • Seawright vs. Seawright--O. S. 220; N. S. 78--James Seawright died intestate in Mercer County, Pennsylvania. George Ayler (Ohler) deposes he is son of Anthony and Ann Catherine Ayler, witnesses to John Seawright's will. Ann Rankin, daughter of John Seawright, whose will is dated 1784, deposes. George Ayler deposes, 1811, that Anthony Ayler died about 10 years ago and Anna Catherine about four years before him. Joan Seawright has no nephew named John Seawright. Bill filed by John Seawright, is grandson of John Seawright who died 1784 testate. He is same person as called nephew in the will. James Seawright, son of testator John, is dead intestate, leaving widow who is administratrix, and children vis: Sarah, Polly and James, and widow pregnant, the other heirs and representatives of testators are Robert Curry and Jane, his wife; Samuel Curry and Polly, his wife; Nicholas Curry and Sarah, his wife; Samuel McPheters and Margaret, his wife; Isaac Rankin and Ann, his wife. Will of John Seawright, dated 17th February, 1784. Wife Sarah; son James; daughter Ann; nephew John Seawright; niece Margaret Seawright; (also Margaret Henderson, late Seawright, wife of John Henderson, living in Georgia. She Is complainant's sister); Robert Curry and wife, Samuel Curry and wife, Nicholas Curry and wife, Saml. McPheeters and wife, and infant children of James Seawright, live out of Virginia

Notes on John Seawright

http://www.aldhizer.com/genealogy/family_directory/PS05/PS05_081.htm

Name John SEAWRIGHT, 5G Grandfather, S623, 2081, M Birth 1717, Northern Ireland18 Death aft 17 Feb 1784, VA Father Samuel SEAWRIGHT, 3959, M (-1767) Mother Elizabeth TEMPLETON, 3960, F

Spouses: 1 Sarah LEEPER23, 5G Grandmother, L160, 2082, F Death 1794, Augusta Co., VA Birth 1725, Northern Ireland18 Father James LEEPER, 3072, M (1700-1763) Mother Margaret, 3073, F


Children: George Gavin, 2429, M (1740-~1783)

Margaret, 2071, F (1742-1829) 
James, 2086, M (1745-1790) 
Sarah, 2084, F (1753-1834) 
Jane, 2085, F (1758-1822) 
Anne, 2083, F (1760-) 
Mary, 2020, F (-1830) 

Research Notes for John SEAWRIGHT John Seawright was thought, by some, to have been the son of Samuel Seawright and Elizabeth Templeton who died in South Carolina. However, from information in "The Saga of the Seawrights" by Nell Seawright Reeves, page 111, it has been determined that, the John Seawright, son of Samuel, was a different man. He was born before 1747 in Ireland and died in 1807 in Orangeburg District, S.C.. He lived on Beaver Creek.

John Seawright of this Family Group Sheet was in Augusta County, Virginia at least by 24 July 1740. He had a survey in 1738 for 819 acres on the North side of Cathey's River. "Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia," by Lyman Chalkley, Vol. II, page 375: "(74) ( ) ber ye 16, 1738, survey for Jno. Seawright, beginning at said Seawright's White Oak, corner ye Beever Run, corner George Hutchison, 919 acres. This survey returned for Jm. Preston Surveyed April ye 23, 1739."

Same page: "(75) 9 ber ye 16, 1738, survey for Dr. Seawright, begiming m No. Side Carthrie's River." (Who is Dr. Seawright?)

On page 374 of same volume: "(56) 8 ber 20, 1738, survey for George (Seawright, bright?), begiming (ok) on West side South Fork of Shenandore below ye mouth of a Spring branch..." (Number of acres not given)(Who is George Seawright?)

"Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia," by Lyman Chalkley Vol. I, page 42, "April 1804 ... 1505 acres on Naked Creek, including a tract of 230 acres of a patent to John Searight, 26th April, 1742, and also a patent to James Leeper, 12th July 1746.." (James Leeper was John's father-in-law.)

It was legal in Virginia in those early days for land to be purchased in any name, regardless of age of that person. However, it is believed that John Seawright was an adult man when he came to Virginia and if he were 21 when he had a survey in 1738, he would have been born in 1717. (His exact birthrate is not known.)

His Will dated 17 February 1784. Probated 3 August 1811 in Staunton, Augusta Co., Virginia. Since wills were not made until a man thought he was about to die, we can be assured that John Seawright probably died in 1784, in Augusta Co., VA. Therefore, this John could not have been the son of Samuel Seawright and Elizabeth Templeton. My John is a generation older than the John in SC, who died in 1807. That John may have been married to a Sarah but not Sarah Leeper.

"Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia, by Lyman Chalkley, Vol. II, page 176 and 177: "Seawright vs. Seawright --O. S. 220; N.S. 78-James Seawright died intestate in Mercer County, Pennsylvania. George Ayler (Ohler) deposes he is son of Anthony and Am Catherine Ayler, witnesses to John Seawright's will. Ann Rankin, daughter of John Seawright, whose will is dated 1784, deposes. George Ayler deposes, 1811, that Anthony Ayler died about 10 years ago and Anna Catherine about four years before him John Seawright has no nephew named John Seawright. Bill filed by John Seawright, is grandson of John Seawright who died 1784 testate. He is same person as called nephew in the will. James Seawright, son of testator John, is dead intestate, leaving widow who is administratrix, and children viz: Sarah, Polly and James, and widow pregnant, the other heirs and representatives of testators are Robert Curry and Jane, his wife; Samuel Curry and Polly, his wife; Nicholas Curry and Sarah, his wife; Samuel McPheeters and Margaret, his wife; Isaac Rankin and Arm, his wife. Will of John Seawright, dated 17 February, 1784. Wife Sarah; son James; daughter Arm; nephew John Seawright; niece Margaret Seawright; (Also Margaret Henderson, late Seawright, wife of John Henderson, living in Georgia. She is complainant's sister); Robert Curry and wife, Samuel Curry and wife, Nicholas Curry and wife, Saml. McPheeters and wife, and infant children of James Seawright, live out of Virginia."

George Seawright, son of John and Sarah Seawright, died in 1783. The John and Margaret Seawright mentioned in the above paragraph where children of George and Jane King Seawright. (Vol. I, page 237 of "Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia")

Sarah Leeper was the daughter of James and Margaret Leeper: "Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia," by Lyman Chalkley, Volume III, page 93: "Page 443.--22d October 1765. Margaret Leeper's settlement, recorded of estate of James Leeper--Paid to the heirs, viz: To Isah (sic) Curry, Andrew Leeper, Wm. McMullen, Geo. Leeper, Jno. Seawright, Nicholas Leeper, Jno Leeper. Margaret Leeper, Jr., Saml. Henderson, Jas Leeper, Jr. in his life time." Sarah Leeper Seawright's part to her husband Jno. Seawright. (Isaiah frequently misspelled).

From "My Augusta" by C. E. May, page 336, there is a story entitled, Seawright Spring. This Spring was developed into a type of resort. It passed through hands and there was a George Seawright in March 1884. Who this George was is unknown. By June 20, 1890, George had died and his land was partitioned. The waters from the spring were thought to be medicinal and was bottled and sold.

From "A Record of the Seawright Family" by William Seawright, page 182: The Seawright Family. I. Augusta County, Virginia, Seawright Family. "The founder of this family was George Seawright, who came from Londonderry, Ireland, to Georgia. He had one son, John Seawright, who came to Virginia, married and reared a family of four children: George and John, now dead; James, who removed from Virginia; and Mrs. Anne Myers. George and John Seawright were in good circumstances. John being worth over thirty thousand dollars, and George nearly that amount. John Seawright left one child, and George had four."


From records concerning John Seawright's will, we know the information about John's children was not totally correct. He had two sons and five daughters.

It would be very interesting to find the George Seawright, supposed to be the father of John Seawright who married Sarah Leeper. It is uncertain if George Seawright was in Virginia when the survey was made for him in 1738. He could have been in Georgia at that time. Perhaps this George was brother of William Seawright who married Esther Thompson.18