William Powell was a young Marylander of good family and property who had but recently settled in the now forgotten metropolis of Dumphries on the Potomac, whence he had married in 1736, Eleanor, the only daughter of Valentine Peyton, born at "Stony Hill" on Acquia, in old Stafford, Bugess and Colonel of County Militia of old Prince William....
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]
Genealogical Records: Pennsylvania Colonial Records, 1600-1800s
Colonial & Revolutionary Families, Vol II, Powell Evans, P 775-778-9
William Powell, who settled in Prince William Co., VA, and married Elinor Peyton, daughter of Colonel Valentine Peyton.(see notes for Valentine Peyton)