• General Notes

  Stafford Co VA Genweb
    William POWELL (son of William POWELL and Elizabeth "Eliza" LANE) was born about 1703 in "Greenfields", Somerset, MD.  Between 1724 and 1734 he was a Ship captain in Coastal trade, MD.  First known as the captain of a small vessel engaged in the coastal trade (off coast of MD).  He lived "Dumphries", Prince WilliamCo, VA in "Dumphries", Prince WilliamCo, VA in 1734.,,  "When William Powell, Jr. left Somerset County for Virginia is not known...He was married in 1736 to Eleanor, daughter of Col. Valentine Peyton, J.P., and Burgess of Stafford County.  It is likely that he had for some time lived in Dumfries, the thriving little Scotch trading center on the mighty Potomac, but a few miles distant from "Stony Hill", the Peyton seat on Acquia Creek.  To have formed a marriage alliance with one of the most notable families of that part of Virginia, William Powell, Jr. must have been a young gentleman of very respectable reputation and fortune.  Apparently he forsook the faith of his fathers after his removal to Virginia and married into the staunch Episcopal Peyton-Harrison connection--for these two families, separated by only a few miles, were closely allied by blood and marriage."  After 1734 he was a Farmer in Pr. WilliamCo, VA.  He donated a  land gift to on 20 May 1740  A deed made  William to his brother John states that his father, William, had intended to give John more of the land but had not put it into his will.  Since William was the eldest, this land went to him but he deeded it to John.  This deed was signed by William Powell and Ellen Powell, his wife.  He purchased land on 21 Sep 1740 in Pr. WilliamCo, VA  Valentine and Frances Peyton by indenture sold William Powell for 5 shillings 150 A. on the North end of that tract of land which Peyton bought of Thomas Dalice (Dallas) to enclose the plantation where Powell lived. (William was the son-in-law of Valentine & Frances.)  He purchased land on 22 Oct 1741 in Fauquier & Loudon Co, VA    10 Feb 1762. Deed of Gift. William Powell of Prince  William, Parish of Dittengen, to Leven Powell, for natural love and affection for which I have and do bear unto my son...tract in Fauquier and Loudon  taken up and pattented by William Powell and surveyed by Thomas Davis...22  Oct. 1741..  557 acres.. Signed William Powell.  He obtained a Land Patent on 22 Oct 1741 in Hunger Run, Pr. WilliamCo, VA.,     "A tract of 557 acres was granted to William Powell, Jr.  It was a part of the 'White Plains', grazing land where from immemorial times the Indians had hunted buffalo and elk, and still claimed as hunting grounds by the slowly receding Iroquouis nation."
     "Col. Francis Peyton, his wife's brother, had already taken up grants nearby in the neighborhood of Aldie as early as 1734....Peyton, J.P., Burgess, and Sheriff of old Prince William, distinguished soldier of the Revolution."  [William & Mary Quarterly]
  
  >>>>>>>>>>
     Date:         Sat, 5 Aug 2000 10:59:14 -0700
     From:         "Virginia L. \"Ginny\" Keefer" <rkeeferjr@@mediaone.net>
     Source:      VAFAUQUI-L@@rootsweb.com
     Subject:     Rector's and neighbors
  
  Landmarks of Old Prince William, Vol's. I & II by Fairfax Harrison, 1987,
  Gateway Press, Inc.
  page 259
  
  Following Parson Scott came an overflow from Germantown. In June, 1731,
  John Fishback took a grant of 1,028 acres at the head of a fork of two
  branches of Broad Run of Occoquan and a few months later, Jacob Holtzclaw
  surveyed 362 acres adjoining and at the head of a small branch of Goose
  Creek.
  
  The comprehensive occupation of the territory beyond the grants we have
  named took place during the years from 1739 to 1747, while William Fairfax
  had responsible charge of the proprietary during the absence of Lord
  Fairfax. To that period belong the appearance here of such Potomac River
  names as: John Peyton, Charles Elwell, Nathaniel Chapman and George Byrn.
  
  An outpost was created by escheated surveys in the valley between Pignut
  and the Head of the Rappahannock Mountain. Names there were; Skinker,
  Thomas Turner and son Harry, William Powell in 1741, Brents, Fitzhughs,
  Jeffery's, Carters, Lees, Burgesses, Colvills, Tillman Weaver, and JOHN
  RECTOR.  He was a tax payer in Western Dettingen Parish, Pr. WilliamCo, VA in 1747.     William Powell--1
  This list reports all tithable inhabitants of the region between Bull run and Cedar Run (the lower part of which is now considered part of the Occoquan R.) in 1747.  It is a rather full record  of the families living in what is now western Pr. WilliamCo, lacking the names of children under 16 and of adult white women, who were not charged with the tithable tax.  [no negroes listed for William]  He on 29 Jan 1760 was in Court  James,
  Is that case relating to operating an "ordinary" without a license? I thought I saw something about that but cannot lay my hands on it.
  Harold
  -----Original Message-----
  From: J. A. Holifield [mailto:light_n_@@bellsouth.net]
  Sent: Thursday, October 07, 2004 1:37 PM
  To: VALOUDOU-L@@rootsweb.com
  Hello Barbara, I have a book entitled,"The Historian's Guide to Loudoun County,Virginia - Volume I; Colonial Laws of Virginia and County Court Orders 1757-1766" and in it is listed the following Powell's:...........
  3) William Powell - on Jan. 29, 1760 there is a court case against him in Prince William County
  
  From: J. A. Holifield <mailto:light_n_@@bellsouth.net>
  To: Harold Davey <mailto:hdavey@@comcast.net>
  Sent: Wednesday, December 29, 2004 5:25 PM
  Subject: Re: William Powell court case
  Hello Harold,
  It does not say what the court case is, since it is outside of Loudoun County in Prince William County; it only lists the fact that Francis Peyton attended court in Prince William County for two days as a witness against William Powell and that apparently the entry is for traveling expenses payed to Francis Peyton, since it shows,"traveling from Loudoun County...forty-five miles." to quote what's in the book.
  Jim Holifield
    He donated a  land gift to on 10 Feb 1762 
    10 Feb 1762. Deed of Gift. William Powell of Prince  William,
  > Parish of Dittengen, to Leven Powell, for natural love and affection for
  > which I have and do bear unto my son...tract in Fauquier and Loudon taken up
  > and pattented by William Powell and surveyed by Thomas Davis...22 Oct. 1741..
     557 acres.. Signed William Powell. Wit; WILLIAM SEALE, Robert Peyton,
  > Samson Demovel. Rec. 25 Feb 1762. prov by o. of Robert Peyton. 25 March 1762,
     prov by. of WILLIAM SEALE and Sampson Demovel.
    He was a tax payer in LoudounCo, VA from 1762 to 1765.  William Powell of Prince William County is listed as a taxpayer in the Loudoun County Fee Books for the years 1762, 1764, and 1765.  He on 8 Mar 1779 was a witness.  Wm. proved indenture by George Washington, General & Commander in Chief of the United American Army.  Hein 1780 served in the Rev. War..,,  On 27 Nov 1780, tax warrant for 258 pounds was issued to William Powell for his services  as Commissary. 160.  Certification by Prince William Co. Court that William Powell furnished beef for public use, dated 2 Nov 1783.  He purchased land before 1781 in Mountain Road, on Broad Run, Pr. Wm.Co, VA  In 1781, William Linton sold to Bernard Hooe 74 A. on Mountain Road adj.Norm Matthews, William Powell, and Benjamin Dulaney.  Part of tract purchased of Elliott Monroe.  He was a tax payer in Loudoun Co., VA in 1782.                                 Poll    Slave
  
  Powell, William           1         --       Loudoun (1782)
  
  Note: This record could relate to William's son, William L. Powell (1745-), who also lived in LoudounCo, instead of to William (1703-1787).
    He signed a will on 24 Feb 1787 in Pr. WilliamCo, VA.,  Will of William Powell, Senr.[sic] of Prince William County, Virginia
     Son Leven Powell, 20 Shillings Sterling only.
     Daughter Frances Elliot, 20 Shillings Sterling only.
     Daughter Margaret Bristow, 20 Shillings Sterlingonly.
     Son William Powell, 50 A. of land, adj the land I before give him deeds for, as follows:
  Beginning at a white oak corner to John Cannon & myself, stadning in a line of marked trees between me & sd. Cannon, and running from thence a strait line to aforesaid red oak near the corner of my fence, from thence a strait line with the same course to the Raftertree Branch, from thence down the said branch to John Brett corner or the maple branch, including 50 A. more or less to him the said William Powell.
     Son Peyton Powell, the plantation he holds under a lease from me to James Legg & 60 A. of land to be added thereunto as follows: Beginning at a white oak corner, mentioned in the lease & running from thence to a samll white oak and two red oaks corner to Berard Hooe & myself, from thence with said Hooe line to Delanies, from thence down Delanies sd. lineuntil it intersex with the dividing line mentioned in the lease, inclulding 60 A. more or less to the the sd. Peyton Powell, during his natural life and then to his brother William Powell and his heirs.  Also, 1,000 A. of land and marsh lying on the Delaware Bay, being bounded by the bay & the sea comonly called Rundley Marsh, one part in Pennsylvania [sic--Delaware.?] and one part in Maryland.  Also a plantation on Potomack {sic--Pocomoke?] River, known by the name of Starretts, left to by my father & then in Somerset County.  Also, one other track of land adj that of Starrett, called Harris (?) Track to him and his lawfully begotten heirs.
     Daughter Sarah Powell, 80 A. of land to be laid off as follows: beginning at a white oak and two red oaks corner to Hooe and self, as before mentioned, from thence with his line to a box oak corner to Hooe & myself, within William Matthew's line, from thence with sd. Matthew's line until it extends so far on that line as by fixing across with a strate line to the beginning to includ 80 A. of land.
     Also, a cow & a calf, a bed and furniture,two pewter basins, two dishes "?" and half a dozen plaates to her the said Sarah Powell.  Tho if she dies without lawful issue then to her sister Elizabeth Powell and after her, if without lawful issue, to her brother William Powell.
     Granddaughter Sarah Powell, the daughter of Leven Powell, all my track of land lying in Loudoun County, on Little River, that I took up joining to Walker, Scott, Short, and Mauer (?).
     I lend my loving wife Elinor Powell all my estate, both real and personal, during her natural life or widowhood, she committing no wate, & at her death I give unto my daugher Elisabeth Powell the whole of that I before lent my wife Elinor Powell, except that I ahe before given her &, after all my just debt is paid, to her the sd. Elizabeth Powell.  Tho, if she dies without lawfully issure, then to her brother William Powell.
     I do hereby appoint by loving wife Elinor Powell, my son Leven Powell, & my son William Powell my executors of this my last will & testament.  Given under my hand & seal this 24th day of Febr. 1787.
  
  Signed Sealed in the presents of:  WILLIAM POWELL   Seal
  
  WILLIAM MATTHIS
  JAMES (his mark) ARIS (?)
  AISLEY + HAYMEN
  THOS. BURNETT
  JOHN BRETT
  
  [A note in the left hand margin reads as follows:
     N.B. 1794 May 5th
     Admtron with this
     will annexed granted
     to Elizabeth Powell
          (?) J. Williams]
  
  At a Court Continued & held for Prince William County the 8th day of April 1788, this Last will and Testament of William Powell Deceased was presented to the Court by William Powell an Executor therein named & the same being proved by the oath of John Brett was ordered to be certified & at a held for the said County the 2nd day of June 1788 the said will was fully proved by the oaths of Aisley Hayman & William Matthews & ordered to be recorded.
                                          Teste     Robert Graham
  
  NB. May 5th 1794.  Leven Powell & Wm. Powell Exors. refused to qualify & administration with the will annexed was then granted to Elizabeth Powell.
  
                                          Teste     Robert Graham  He died after 24 Feb 1787 in Pr. WilliamCo, VA.  He was a tax payer in Pr. WilliamCo, VA on 21 Mar 1787.  Pr. WilliamCo Personal Property Tax 1787 - List "A"
                                             1 2 3 4 5
  Powell, William, Jr.              0 4 3 4 9        3/20
  Powell, William, Sr.             0 3 1 4 8        3/21
     N.B. William Powell died abt 24 Feb 1787  He had his estate probated on 8 Apr 1788 in Pr. WilliamCo, VA.  The inventory was returned to court and ordered to be recorded 6 Oct 1794.  A report of setttlement was approved 4 May 1795.     William's grandson, Burr Powell, said he was a man of intemperate habits, "wore a gold-laced hat, played the fiddle, and showed all the improvidence of a sailor.  He gave his children but little education and often complained of a loss of property in MD through the second marriage of his mother"; but Alexandria historian Mary Crawford Powell found on record at Annapolis evidence of his having sold his property to others leaving but 100 A. which he claimed at the time of sale in 1737.
  
    Eleanor PEYTON and William POWELL had the following children:
  
  +19i.Lt. Col. Leven POWELL (born about 1737).
  +20ii.John Thomas POWELL (born about 1745).
  +21iii.William L. POWELL (born about 1745).
  +22iv.Margaret POWELL (born in 1751).
  +23v.Frances POWELL (born about 1755).
  24vi.Sarah POWELL
  25vii.Elizabeth POWELL
  +26viii.Lt. John Peyton POWELL (born on 28 Feb 1760).

Details of William Jr's family with Elizabeth "Eliza" LANE