General Notes

(Research):BradleyFM@@aol.com lists Abel as father Thaxton's first name. This is the only place that I have heard it.  Pet, PetMarv@@aol.com, says that she got the information about Abel Thaxton from a Spunky Thaxton of Charleston, WV and that he thinks that Abel was born ca. 1710.  Email message from Wilbur L. Thaxton, (Spunky) at spunkt@@charter.net, 633Piccadilly St., Charleston, WV 25302 and phone 304-342-4215or546-4215. Abel Thaxton (Thackston) was born about 1710 in Livedia, Goochland County, Virginia. It is possible his father or grandfather was Richard Thaxton. There were three Richard Thaxton's who came to Virginia: Richard to Middlesex County in 1659; Richard to New Kent County in 1667; another Richard to New Kent County in 1672. Richard Thaxton of Middlesex County had a son, John, born about 1677. John was no longer in the county in 1700. Of course, he may have died but then he might have moved to Goochland County. Abel did name his first son, John. So far, I have been unable to tie any of these Thaxton's to Abel. The time period fits for one of them to be an ancestor of Abel.  Abel married Lucy Davis, b. 1712 - d. 1781 about 1729 and they had the following children: John Thaxton, b. abt. 1730 d. aft. 1770 who married Ann (Unknown); James "X" (my GGGGGG Grandfather), b. abt. 1731, d. Bet. 1786-1799 who married Elizabeth Clarke on Sept 30, 1753, Thomas, b. 1744, d. Aug 29, 1824 who married Jerima Cobb and Hannah Williamson; William, Sr., b. 1745 d. Apr 22, 1803 who married Lucy Green Clay; Elizabeth; Sarah; George and Cyrus Thaxton.

ABEL THAXTON  of Goochland and Prince Edward Co., Virginia  Abel Thaxtonwas an early resident of Goochland Co., Va., and later Prince Edward (PE) Co., Va.  We believe Abel was the progenitor of a large branch ofVirginia Thaxtons, as explained below.  The first record we have of Abelis his appearance as a defendant in a lawsuit brought in 1731 by a localmerchant of Goochland County. (Goochland Co. Order Bk 2, pp. 146, 165,186.  Abel was "not to be found.")  If he was of legal age when suit wasbrought against him, Abel would have been born by 1710.  We believe hemay have been a few years older, which would make him 21 or older whenhis first child was born about 1730.  Goochland was formed in 1727 fromHenrico Co., Virginia.  It appears that Abel lived in the area ofGoochland County near the Henrico County border.  In a 1743 land deed,Abel was said to be of the "parish and County of Henrico" when hepurchased land in Goochland County from John Williamson Jr. and his wifeMary of Princess Anne Co., Virginia. (Goochland Deed Bk 4, p. 164).  WhenAbel sold part of that land in 1748, the purchaser, Joseph Lewis, alsosaid he was of the county and parish of Henrico. (Goochland Deed Bk 5, p.483).  We are hoping to determine the location of Abel's land inGoochland from early maps and the land descriptions of his neighbors.  In1750, Abel and eleven neighbors were charged with determining whether aproposed mill would adversely affect landowners in their area.(Goochland Co. Deed Bk ).  Those who signed the document with Abel wereWilliam Pledge, James Mayo, John and Tucker Woodson, John Clarkson,Jeffrey Clarke, John Payne, William Farrar, Benjamin Bratcher, JohnJohnson, and John Woodall.  Early records of Goochland County indicatethat Abel Thaxton was probably the father of James and John Thaxton,discussed in separate sections below.  In May 1743, Abel Thaxton and JohnThaxton both testified as witnesses for Thomas Wharton in an actionagainst Stephen Hughes in Goochland County.  For five days' attendance,each received 125 pounds of tobacco. (Goochland Co Ct Order Bk     , p.).  In 1746, John Thaxton was named as a tithable in the household ofAbel Thaxton.  James Thaxton was included as a tithable in Abel'shousehold in 1748.  At that time, Virginia tithable lists included thehead of household and all other males over the age of 16 in thehousehold.  For reasons set forth in their respective sections, we alsob