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John Billups, Captain, Ship builder, mariner
At least two John Billups were living at Kingston Parish during the 1770's, father and son, Senior and Junior, and Captain and Lieutenant, respectively.[1]
This profile represents the older Captain John Billups, who left a will which was proved on 3 November 1785, and married Ann Avery. He had several children mentioned in his will. He was named a Captain during the Revolutionary War.
The younger Lieutenant John Billups married Ann Unknown (b 16 Jan 1759 Kingston Parish), daughter of John Billups and Mary Lilly, and had only one child.[2]
The Daughters of the American Revolution confounds the two, assuming that during the Revolution, John Billups served as a Captain from Gloucester County, and he also served as a Lieutenant for the Militia.[3] Unclear whether this record refers to the father, Capt. John Billups, or the son, Lt. John Billups, or both. The DAR also reports John R. Billups (b 1803; mar in 1823 to Lilly Ann Stevens) as a son, when he was actually a grandson of this Capt. Billups. The article titled, "Officers Appointed by the Gloucester Co. (Va.) Committee of Safety in 1775," published in The William and Mary Quarterly, appears to resolve the question.[4] John Billups, Sr. was chosen as a Captain, and John Billups, Jr. as a Lieutenant.[5] It seems the DAR combined the two men by mistake.
John was born c. 1718 at Kingston Parish, Gloucester County, Virginia.[6]
Birth date 1718 is a guess, based on birth of his first child born in 1743.
According to the uncredited family tree, the John Billups, who left the 1785 will and married Ann Avery, was the son of John Billups and Ann Unknown (no evidence given).[7]
The profile for John Billups (b c. 1625) who married Ann (Unknown) has been disconnected as father, due to birth dates too far apart. They might be reconnected later, if some evidence is discovered, or evidence of modification of dates.
This profile once showed John as the son of John Billups and Mary Glasscock. However, their son, John Billups, was much earlier; he had only one known child, Joseph Billups, b 1697, d 1767, of Amelia, Prince Edward and Lunenburg Counties; married Margaret Lilly (and had six children).
John married twice.
Children mentioned in his will:
Two John Billups are listed in the Census of Gloucester County, Kingston Parish, 1782/3.[9] "John Billups and mother" had 4 whiltes and 6 slaves in the household.[9] "Jno. Billups" household consisted of 9 whites and 33 slaves.[9] Also listed in the 1782/3 Census next to Jno. Billups was Richard Billups with 4 whites and 3 slaves.[9]
Captain John Billups, Sr. was listed in both the 1782 Kingston Parish, Gloucester County Tax List, and in the 1791 newly formed Mathews County Tax List (p 107).[8] It was not uncommon for the estate of someone deceased to appear on tax roles. Although the wife may have been living on the property during her widowhood, she did not own it, but nor had it passed to the legatee. John owned 750 acres in 1782, and this was reduced to 450 acres in 1791 (p 107).[8]
In the 1782/3 Census of Gloucester County, John Billups of Kingston Parish household consists of 9 whites and 33 blacks.[9]
The Gloucester County, Virginia Committee of Safety chose officers on 13 September 1775, and included were Richard Billups and John Billups, Sr. both chosen as Captains, and John Billups, Jr. as a Lieutenant.[5]
John Billups lived at Milford Haven, on property adjoining William Lilly. John left a will which was proved on 3 November 1785.[8] In this will, he mentioned children: John Billups, Richard Billups, George Billups, daughter Mary Dudley, son-in-law George A. Dudley, daughter Ann Roberts, son-in-law Thomas Roberts, daughter Joice Avery, deceased, son-in-law John Avery, granddaughter Mary S. Avery, son Humphrey Billups, my son Johnny Choice of .... (part missing), daughter Lucretia Billups, daughter Elizabeth Billups, wife Lucy.[8]
He also mentioned his brother, Humphrey in regards to a negro man owned by himself and his brother who was in the possession of Mary Hayes.[8] Sons John and Richard were appointed his executors.[8]
The Will of John Billups, written on July 20, 1785, is included among the papers of Richard Billups at the William and Mary College Library.[10]
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