John Johns (1715 - 1774)

Born 1715 in Colony of Virginia

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 1774 at about age 59 in Amelia County, Virginia

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Biography

John Johns of Amelia County married Judith Tanner.^[1]

He apparently died in 1774.^[2][3]

Estate

A chancery suit recorded 22 October 1778 in Amelia County includes his wife's name (Judith), the name of his daughter who married Richard Mitchell (Jean), and a Tabitha Johns (who probably was the wife of William Brumer, named in the 1782 settlement).^[4]

• 1778 chancery suit between Judith Johns, James Mann and his wife Judith, Joel Johns, Mary Johns, Sarah Johns, Nathaniel Johns, Stephen Johns, Tabitha Johns and Richard Mitchell and his wife Jean against John Johns, administrator of John Johns, deceased (Amelia Co., VA Order Book 14, pg. 237).^[4]

Settlement of his estate was recorded on 25 July 1782 in Amelia County, Virginia.^[5][6]

Named in the record:

• "the widdow", land and "Slaves Lewis, Amy, and Ceasar"
• "the legatees"
  • "James Mann in right of his wife Judith"
  • Joel Johns
  • Martha Johns
  • Mary Johns
  • Sarah Johns
  • Nathaniel Johns
  • Stephen Johns
  • Rich'd Mitchel in right of his wife
  • William Brumer in right of his wife
  • William Booth in right of his wife^[7][8]
  • John Johns
• The "subscribers... appointed by the Court of Amelia County..."
  • Sam Sherwin
  • Jno. Howson
  • Rowland Ward Jun.

Research Notes

Neither Elizabeth nor Martha are mentioned in the transcription of the 1778 chancery suit,^[4] but Martha is listed as a legatee in the 1782 settlement, as is William Booth,^[6] who married Elizabeth Johns in 1768.^[7]

Records for two John Johns' will/estate in Virginia dated 1778 and 1782 are for different men, as is a third 1782 record.

1. This John Johns, of Amelia County, whose will appears to have been first recorded in 1774,^[2] with a chancery suit in 1778^[4] and an estate settlement in 1782.^[6]
2. A different John Johns, of Charlotte County, whose will was dated 23 January 1778 and proved in May.^[9][10][11]
3. John Johns' 1781 will, "pro. 28 Jan. 1782" in Cumberland County.^[12]

Location Notes: Nottoway Parish, formed in 1748, served Amelia County (until after 1785) and Prince Edward County from 1753 to 1755.^[13]

Sources

1. ↑ An Amelia County deed supports his wife's maiden name being Tanner:
   • 3 April 1770: Joel Tanner of Nottoway Parish to John Johns... Witnesses : John Gooch, John Johns Jr., and Joel Johns (Amelia Co., VA Deed Book 11, pg.115).
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} "Johns, John 1774" is listed in Amelia County – Index to Wills and Administrations, 1736-1800, transcription contributed to USGenWeb by Joan Renfrow (accessed 26 January 2023).
3. ↑ Virginia wills and administrations, Library of Virginia index listing for John Johns 1774 (accessed 26 January 2023). Johns, John, p. 136-137. Inv. & appr., undated p. 161. Accounts rec. 5 May 1775. Will Book No. 2, 1771-1780 (Reel 29). Part of index to Amelia County Wills and Administrations (1734 - 1800).
   • FamilySearch file of Amelia County Wills: pages 136-137 (image 75 of 428).
   • FamilySearch file of Amelia County Wills: page 161-page 162 (images 87, 88 of 428).
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3} From a Rootsweb source (no URL given) included as a source for the FamilySearch PID for John Johns (about 1715–25 July 1782), accessed 28 October 2022.
5. ↑ Amelia, Virginia Will Books (1771–1786), 1782 settlement of John Johns' estate, image 269 of 428, accessed 27 January 2023.
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2} From USGenWeb Archives, Amelia County Wills: "Will of John Johns, 1782, Will Book 3 Amelia County Virginia page 137 Date 25 July 1782", contributed by D. Gregory.
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} "Virginia, Vital Records, 1715-1901", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6V74-MZML : 13 December 2022), John Johns in entry for William Booth (married Elizabeth, daughter of John, in Amelia County on 18 Jan 1768).
8. ↑ This William Booth?
   • William Booth (1745-abt.1804)
9. ↑ Will of John Johns of Charlotte County, from "Charlotte Co VA Records 1765-1791", transcription included in the FamilySearch PID for John Johns (about 1715–25 July 1782), with the note "from Pedigree File #MM6J-NS4" (accessed 28 October 2022).
   
   This other John Johns, of Charlotte County, left a wife named Lucy, daughters (including a "youngest Twin___ Margaret") and son Thomas, all under 21. His mother was also provided for in the will. Executors were Thomas Rice, John Younger, Samuel Clark, and Perrin Allday. This other John's will also speaks of land left to Lucy by "her Father and is now in Hanover County". The will was proved at a "Court held for Charlotte County on the 4th day of May 1778... in the presence of" Samuel Rice, Mary (X) (her mark) Mills, and William Cook.
   
   
10. ↑ Library of Virginia: John Johns' 1778 Will, Charlotte County (Va.), "p. 176-177. Will pro. 4 May 1778. p. 422a. Accounts rec. 5 Oct. 1789." Will Book No. 1, 1765-1791 (Reel 16), Part of index to Charlotte County Wills and Administrations (1765 - 1800).
11. ↑ See also FamilySearch Person: MM6J-NS4 (from the citation for the Charlotte County will, but which, as of 28 October 2022, connects to a page that says the person "was deleted by merge. Surviving person: Isaac Blanchar", of England). The Charlotte County John Johns is a different person than this WikiTree profile represents.
12. ↑ Library of Virginia: John Johns' 1781 will, Cumberland County, Virginia. Will Book No. 2, 1769-1792 (Reel 17), "p. 285. Will, pro. 28 Jan. 1782. 1781 w", Part of index to Cumberland County Wills and Administrations (1749 - 1810).
13. ↑ WikiTree's Category: Nottoway Parish, Amelia County, Virginia Colony (accessed 26 January 2023).

• FamilySearch PID for John Johns (about 1715–25 July 1782)
  • FamilySearch Person: LZGL-2HD
  • FamilySearch Person Sources: LZGL-2HD 3 sources, as of 28 October 2022
  • FamilySearch Person Discovery: LZGL-2HD

See also:

• Ancestry: U.S. Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783 (Ancestry Online publication: 2007). Note - a search of the online databases on 28 October 2022 for DAR and SAR found no John Johns who matched this profile (born 1715, died before 1782; married Judith Tanner) or the John Johns who died in 1778 and whose wife's name was Lucy.