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Facts and Events
Information on William Farris
The Farris (Faires, Faries, Ferris) family was among the first pioneer settlers of Washington and Russell counties of Southwestern Virginia when it was a wilderness frontier.
William, Robert and Gideon Farris settled on the South Fork of the Holston River near the present town of Damascus in S.E. Washington County Virginia in 1768. William died in 1777 and Gideon administered his estate. Gideon (b. ca. 1740-1745) like his father, William, was a farmer and frontier Indian fighter. Gideon served with Col. William Christian in 1776 on a campaign against the Cherokees in East Tennessee who had been attacking frontier settlements at the instigation of the British.
Gideon Farris died about 1818 leaving his widow Sarah (McSpadden) and ten children; Robert, Samuel, William, Gideon (Jr), Mrs. Moses (Elizabeth) Hickenbottom, Thomas, Mrs. Rev Nickolas (Sarah) Speak/e/s, Mable, Mary Callum and Jane McCully.
Robert, Mable and Gideon (Jr) owned land in Claiborne countyTennessee in the 1820's and 1830's but later went to Lee county Virginia where brother, William and sister, Mrs. Rev. Nickolas (Sarah) Speak/e/s lived. William later moved to Carter (later Johnson) county Tennessee where his sister, Mrs. Moses (Elizabeth) Hickenbottom lived.
Source: http://members.tripod.com/~just4day/sharon4.html
From Rootsweb post:
WILLIAM THE ELDER
Not much is known of William Farris. He has been said to have been a son of Henry Farris. William was born near Richmond, Virginia about 1714. It is possible that he lived for a time in Petersburg since his father ran a tavern in Petersburg, Virginia.
WILLIAM JOINS FARRIS FAMILY IN MOVE TO LUNENBURG COUNTY, VIRGINIA
- William's father and most of his family had moved south into Lunenburg County some time before 1750.
- On May 5, 1761 Henry Farris and his brother, Peter Farris, sold land in Lunenburg County, Virginia to David Farris.
- Henry Farris's daughter, Judith Farris Smith, and at least five of his sons, William Farris, Joseph Farris, Thomas Farris, Jacob Farris, and James Esom Farris, moved into the Lunenburg County (or the part of Lunenburg County that became Halifax County, Virginia in 1752) as reflected in the following Lunenburg County, Halifax County, or Pittsylvania County records:
- 1746 August, William Farris sued by John Pleasant, in debt. Luke Smith security for Wm., OB 3, p. 71 Brunswick County, VA
- 1747 April 20 William Farris sued by John Clement (Cleavant) in debt upon a penal bill recover vs def with Luke Smith, security OB 3 p. 170 Brunswick County, VA..
- November 8, 1748 Along with James Hunt and George Abney, witnessed will of William Mays; signed "William (W) Faris" indicating that he use a "mark". Recorded October 1, 1751, WB 1, p. 39, Lunenburg County, Virginia
- March 24, 1750 from James Ferriss of Lunenburg to John Hersey, for 30 pounds, about 127 acres on the north side of Stanton River and bounded by Thomas Baughn's (Baughon) land which he bought from James Ferris, Andrew Cunningham, Mathew Maze, James Franklin. Signed: James (I his mark) Fearis. Wit: John East, William (W his mark) Farris, Joseph Farris. Recorded July 3, 1750, Susanah, wife of James, relinquishes dower. DB 2 p. 76, Lunenburg County, Virginia.
- March 24, 1750 from James Ferris of Lunenburg to Thomas Baughon on Lunenburg, for 30 pounds, about 127 acres, on north side of Stanton River, bounded by Matthew Maze, James Franklin, Andrew Cunningham. Signed: James (I his mark) Ferris. Wit: John East, William (M his mark) Farris, Joseph Farris. Recorded July 3, 1750. Susannah, wife of James, relinquishes dower. DB 2, p. 81, Lunenburg County, Virginia.
- 15 Jul 1772 Halifax Co. VA, DB 8, p. 410: Thomas Faris wit a deed of John East of Pittsylvania Co. to John Farris of Halifax Co., 100 acres on Brush Cr. Other wit: James Faris & James (I his mark) Farris Sr.
EXISTING CHURCH RECORDS FOR WILLIAM FARRIS
These records of tithes pertained to William the Elder. Based on these records it appears that William the elder remained in Lunenburg County, Virginia area.
- 1748 One Tithe, Lunenburg, Co. VA
- 1749 Tithed, Lunenburg Co. VA
- 1750 One Tithe, Lunenburg Co. VA
- 1782 Tithed, 9 whites, Lunenburg Co. VA (This could have been William Jr.'s tithe)
CONFUSION REGARDING WILLIAM'S YEAR OF DEATH
William's death has been reported (by some sources) to be about 1754 in Augusta County, Virginia, but this appears to be a different William Farris in Augusta County, as William's estate records appear in Washington County, Virginia in 1777, as listed below. There is no mention of William Farris in Lunenburg County after 1750, except for the record of William's Tithe in Lunenburg. There is are no apparent records of this William Farris as being in Augusta County. (Note: this paragraph was revised from the original Rootsweb post).
FARRIS FAMILIES MOVE INTO WASHINGTON COUNTY, VIRGINIA
There seems to be eight Farris men who came into Washington County, Virginia in the early days. Without proof, there is speculation that these eight brothers MAY have been the sons of THIS William Farris, who seems to have been born about the time that Henry left the tavern business in Petersburg, VA. There was a Farris girl who left Augusta Co. VA for Lunenburg Co. VA, the "home" county of some of Henry's boys. Pure speculation, but could tie the Farris' in Augusta Co., Washington Co. and
the Lunenburg, Halifax, Henry Counties together.
WASHINGTON COUNTY COURT RECORDS FOR ESTATE OF WILLAM FERRIS/FARIES/FARRIS
January 28, 1777, the newly-formed Washington County Court held its first meeting at Black's Fort in Abingdon. The next day Secretary Arthur Campbell recorded:
- "On motion of Gidion Ferris Administration is granted him on the estate of William Ferris deceased giving Security whereupon he together with James Thompson and James Piper his Securities entered into and acknowledged their Bond in the Sum of One Hundred Pounds for the faithful Administration of the said Decedants Estate with condition as the law Directs.
- Ordered that Alexander McNutt, James Berry, William Lowry, John McCutchan, and David Carson, or any three of them being first sworn appraise the Estate of William Ferris deceased and make report to next court."
Source: http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/FARRIS/2003-03/1047101692
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