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Samuel Ferguson, of the Bullpasture
d.Aft 1767
Facts and Events
| Name |
Samuel Ferguson, of the Bullpasture |
| Gender |
Male |
| Birth? |
Abt 1676 |
Ireland |
| Death? |
Aft 1767 |
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Samuel Ferguson was one of the Early Settlers of Augusta County, Virginia
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About Samuel Ferguson
Samuel Ferguson, who apparently had migrated to the "Bullpasture" area of early Augusta County, by abt. 1754 [Morton, "History of Highland County, Virginia], was likely one of the oldest settlers in the area at the time. His approximate birthdate of abt. 1676 is established by a record in 1761, and he was also listed in a record in 1749 as "being over seventy", which would have been born prior to 1679. He is listed in a 1755 List of Delinquents, indicating he was delinquent in paying taxes and later in 1758 was listed as is "incapable of supporting himself or family and asks something to sustain him to keep him from "dying in your land"". In 1762, he requested in court to "sue in forma pauperis", a legal term used for someone who is without the funds to pursue the normal costs of a lawsuit or criminal defense, again indicating that he lived in relative poverty. He was apparently not trusted by some of his neighbors, as in August 1758, Adam Jordan and his wife Sarah apparently [according to court records] accused Samuel of being "a runaway from Pennsylvania and from Ireland" and of being "a thief and a wizard (meaning he had a secret, sinful, wicked and unlawful communication and correspondence with the devil". The last record in Chalkley's Augusta County court records was in September 1767, when Samuel would have been about 91 years old. It is unknown where he died, if he left a will or died intestate [needs research], or what family he may have left behind.
Records in Augusta County, VA
From Chalkley’s Augusta County Records:
- Vol. 1 - AUGUST 17, 1748. - (50) David Edmiston appd. overseer of road from Tinkling Spring to Stuart and Christian's Road, with these: James and John Campbell, Archibald Stuart, Chas. Dallis, James Hamilton, Richard Pilsher, David Henderson, George Vance, Robt. McCutchin, Saml. McCune, Robert Moody, John Frazier, John Thomson, Wm. Johnson, Alexr. Henderson, Saml. Henderson and Samuel Farguson.
- Vol. 1 - 1749. - Samuel Ferguson, 17th May, 1749, is over seventy and begs to be relieved from public dues.
- Vol. 1 - MAY 28, 1751. - (580) Road ordered to be cleared and kept in repair on the cowpasture by these inhabitants: Wallace Estill, Robert Carlile, John Carlile, Loftus Pullen, Richd. Bodkin, Saml. Ferguson, Mathew Harper, Thomas Wright, Michael Harper, Hance Harper, John Miller, William Price, James Anglen, James Hall, Philip Phegan, John Shaw, Herculus Wilson, William, and John Carlile.
- Vol. 1 - ORIGINAL PETITIONS AND PAPERS FILED IN THE COUNTY COURT. - 1751. - Inhabitants of Bull Pasture and head of Cowpasture petition for a road from Walles Asten's Mill to the road on the head of the Calfpasture: Robert Carrolile, Richard Bodkin, Thomas Wright, John Miller, James Hall, Horcklas Willson, John Carrolile, Samuel Forgerson, Michael Harper, Wm. Price, Philip Phegan, William Carrolile, Loftus Pullen, Mathew Harper, Hance Harper, James Anglen, John Shaw, John Carrolile. Wallas Aston to be overseer.
- Page 82.--21st November, 1754. Archibald Boreland's accounts as administrator, vs. estate of Wm. Jackson--Paid Andrew Dunlap, John Harden, Robt. Duffels, Archd. Elliot, Wm. Davis, Alex. Wright, Alex. McAllroy, Michl. Harper, Jno. Carolile, Samuel McAlvery, Jno. Graham, Joseph Mays, Samuel Ferguson, Wm. Elliott, Stephen Wilson, Alex. Gillespy, Naphtalin Gregory, Jno. Warwick, John Crockett, Charles Dunlap, Geo. Lewis, Thos. Bryan, Nathan Patterson, James Boreland, Wm. Hamilton, James Brown, James Lockridge, John Williamson, David Stanley; cash paid James Armstrong; 7 gallons whiskey for 2d vendue; to Jinney Boreland's account proved.
- Vol. 2 - DELINQUENTS., 1755--List of Robert Breckinridge, Sheriff: Sam'l Ferguson.
- Vol. 2 - Page 195.--19th November, 1757: Vestry met: As processioners appointed in 1755 have not made returns, Clerk is ordered to receive and enter them as they are brought in. Parish Levy. To Samuel Ferguson, object of charity. To John Burdenham, for keeping William Johnson one year. To Sampson Matthews, Reader in Forks of James in 1757, 1,873 tithables at 1/ 10d.
- Vol. 1 - AUGUST, 1758. - Samuel Ferguson vs. Adam and Sarah Jordan.--Slander. Adam Jordan and Sarah, his wife. Process executed by Samuel Mathews. Richard Botkin, bail. Part of the charge was that Ferguson was a runaway from Pennsylvania and from Ireland.
- Vol. 1 - AUGUST, 1758. - Samuel Ferguson vs. Adam Jordan and Sarah.--Sarah said Samuel was a thief and a wizard (meaning he had a secret, sinful, wicked and unlawful communication and correspondence with the devil.
- Vol. 2 - Page 232.-(abt. 15th December, 1758) - Petition by James Ward, 86 years old, almost blind, and unable to provide for himself, for support. Petition of Samuel Ferguson; is drove from his dwelling by the enemy; has since broken one of his legs; is incapable of supporting himself or family; asks something to sustain him to keep him from "dying in your land."
- Vol. 2 - Page 345.--Samuel Ferguson's petition for assistance, aged 85 (1761). John Harding, ditto. (Note: record establishes Samuel's birthyear in abt. 1676).
- Vol. 1 - SEPTEMBER, 1763 (A). - Lynch vs. Ferguson.--Charles and Robert Lynch.
- Vol. 1 - MAY 20, 1762. - (224) Samuel Ferguson--prays and is allowed to sue in forma pauperis.
- Vol. 2 - (undated, abt. 1763/64) - Page 379.--James Scott, James McCay, Thomas Feemster, Wm. Black, from the Head to the Mouth of the Cowpasture and waters thereof. Hugh Hicklin and Saml. Wilson (Willson) in the Bull Pasture and waters thereof. James Dyer and John Davies, Mark Swadley, Boston Hoover, on south Fork of Potowmack. George Hammer, Joseph Skidmore, on the Branch. Henry Landisco, Jacob Peters, for Great and Little Mill Creek. Samuel Ferguson allowed £6 for one year.
- Page 143.--1st September, 1767. Sale bill of Michael Harper's estate James Shoemaker, Saml. Furguson, Robt. McKim, Wm. Jameson. Settlement of above estate, by Mathew Harper. For going to the South Branch, to where he died, 5 days.
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