General Notes

[basham.ged]
Probably the James Paris, son of Samuel Paris, SR of Louisa County, VA.
Would have been a member of Capt William Phillips' Company of Volunte
er Ra ngers of Louisa County, 1763.  On the muster rolls as James Paris, a
lso wi th John Wash, James & WIlliam McGehe, John Hurt, Charles Hester, Be
njam in Henson, John Daniel, and Joseph & William Bickley.  It ne
ed to be cross -checked to see if the Bickley families here tie in with t
he Ralph Shelt on family of King & Queen Co, VA of 1700 (Sarah Shelton Bic
kley Gissed ge - Joseph Bickley group).
On the estate sale deed of 21 Dec 1772, James Paris is still sing
le (o r, if he had a wife, she had died and if the Prince Edward County wi
ll enc ompasses all his children, childless as well).  This puts him movi
ng fr om St. Martin's Parish, Louisa County to Prince Edward County betwe
en J an 1773 and the Graven suit of March 1774.
The will of John Graven was made out on 3 July 1771, probated 7 Feb 1
77 2, in Prince Edward Co, VA.  In it, he names his wife Mary Graven and d
aug hter Lucy Graven as his only heirs.  He also names John Crenshaw as h
is fa ther-in-law, and names Mary Graven & Crenshaw as executors. Mentio
ns la nd he bought from George Walton on the Meherrin River in Charlotte C
oun ty (350 acres) and another tract (384 acres) on Double Creek in Pittsy
lvan ia County, and wanted both sold.  Witnesses were Joseph Brown, Jam
es Brow n, & John Crenshaw.  Presented in court on 7 Feb 1772 and prov
en by Jose ph Brown & John Crenshaw.  Inventory of the estate was return
ed on 18 M ay 1772 by John Crenshaw & Mary Graven, executors. Of intere
st is an ent ry of 'cash - Jess Walton'.  Also of interest is the Walton t
ie-in to t he Woodson & Hughes families.
In Feb 1773, Mary Graven & John Crenshaw were sued by Thomas Grave
n, wi th Martha DeJarnette witness for executors, Henry Ligon, Robert Joh
ns on & Francis DeGraffenreidt for Thomas Graven.  In May 1773, executo
rs we re ordered to pay Joseph Brown for providing testimony as witne
ss at Dr. D onald's (presumably where the county court session was he
ld in Feb 1772? ).  Then, in March 1774, the executors sued James Pari
s.  Case went to a j ury trial, witnesses for Paris were Samuel Sharpe & R
obert Ellyson (Elliso n), and Paris won with the notation that he did n
ot 'take upon himself t he manner' so alledged -- exactly what this mea
ns is unclear from the bri ef legal description of the trial outcome.
It is interesting to note that Sharpe Spencer (per Samuel Sharpe abov
e) w as the overseer for the Peyton Randolph estates per the 1785 State Ce
ns us (see Col John Nash refering to his good friend Col Randolph), a
nd wh en Sharpe Spencer made his will, John Gaulding JR witnessed it.
On the Prince Edward Co, VA Tax List for 1779.
On 17 Dec 1781, James Paris, Waddell Carter, Samuel Carter & George S
mi th were ordered to appraise the slaves and personal estate of Henry Yo
un g, dec'd.  The previous entry granted administration of the estate p
er t he will annex to Elizabeth Young, widow of Henry Young, and Edward Mo
reco ok / Morecock.  Need to review the estate records, as appraisors we
re oft en family members as well.  Elizabeth, wife of James, possibly d
au of Hen ry & Elizabeth Young?
On 15 Aug 1783 & 26 July 1784, made payments on an account with John Zac
ha ry.  In Oct 1785, Thomas Gibson, assignee of Zachary, brought suit aga
in st James Paris for debt.  Paris lost for 6000 lbs of 'good quality impo
rt ed tobacco', and was ordered to pay 3000 lbs with interest from 25 D
ec 17 82 until payment was met.  He was allowed credit for the 1783 payme
nt of L 1.4.8 and 1784 by payment of one mare 'a said'(?) L10.0.0. Calcula
tio ns in the margin also note the date of 23 Feb 1786.  In Aug 1787, Thom
as G ibson sued Charles Zachary as well.  Additionally, in Aug 1787, Gibs
on aga in sued, but this time named James Paris, John Dabney, Stephen Pett
us, Cha rles Penick