Annita Jane (Perry) Knox (bef. 1710 - aft. 1744)

Born before 1710 in England

Ancestors

Descendants

Died after 1744 after age 34 in Augusta Parish, Augusta, Virginia, British Colonial America

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Biography

Jane Perry Usher was born about 1707 in Lisburn, County Down, Ireland. and a daughter of James Perry Ann Swift . In 1753, Jane was mentioned in her father's will as "Jane Perry in America," along with her husband, "Edward Usher, deceased, first husband of said Jane." Annita Jane's daughter, Ann Jane, was the first subject of the the first orphan bond recorded in Augusta County, which indicated she was the orphan of Edward Usher. It is believed by many family researchers that Annita Jane (Perry) Usher married James Knox who is named in the orphan bond. It was common for step-fathers to because guardians of their new wife's children by another husband. If this is true, then Annita most likely died in Tennessee. She married Edward Usher in the late 1720s. Either they both moved to America or Jane did after Edward's death. Edward died while their three daughters were still small and Jane may have later married James Knox. Jane is mentioned in her father's will in 1756 and may have been living in Augusta County, Virginia, after 1772 when James Knox's will was probated. Jane and Edward had three children; Ann Jane, Margaret, and Martha. One report lists another daughter that died in infancy. If Jane was married to James Knox, they had seven children; James, John, Robert, Jean, Abigail, Elizabeth, and Mary.^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ History of Family Stuart by Walter Stuart. pg. 10-12 https://archive.org/details/historyofstuartf00stua/page/17/mode/2up?view=theater

Father's Will

1753 --- Will of James Perry of Perrymount, County Down -- Dated: March 24, 1753 - Proved: May 21, 1756 -- Son: Swift Perry - grandsons: John and Adam, sons of the aforesaid - John Swift, younger son of said son - Sons: John and Adam - Son: Joseph in America - Daughter: Jane Perry in America, Edward Usher, first husband of said Jane - Isabella Charition, wife of said son Joseph. James Perry of Perrymount, County Down was listed in the INDEX TO PREROGATIVE OF ARMAGH WILLS. Almost all Irish wills were destroyed in 1922, but abstracts of some wills can be found in other sources. ABSTRACTS OF PREPROGATIVE COURT OF ARMACH WILLS, by Sir William Betham. and AUGUSTA COUNTY, VIRGINIA HERITAGE BOOK 1732-1998, by The Augusta County, Virginia Genealogical Society, Researched by Richard Parker.

Orphan

1745 --- WILL BOOK: 1, PAGE: 1 -- AUGUSTA COUNTY, VIRGINIA COUNTY COURT HOUSE - Will Book No. 1, page: 1 -- Augusta County, Virginia. ---- Know all men by these presents that we, James Knox, John Brown and Andrew Pickens, bond are held firmly bound unto John Lewis, Gent., first Justice in Commission of the Peace for the County of Augusta, for and in behalf and to the sole use and behoof of the Justices of the said county and their successors in the Sum of one hundred Pounds current Money to be paid to the said John Lewis, his executors., administrators, and assigns to which Payment will and truly to made, we bind our Selves and Every of us and Every of our heirs, executors. and administrators, jointly and severally, firmly by these presents. Sealed with our seals. Dated this 11th day of February. 1745. --- The Condition of the above obligation is such that if the above Bound James Knox, his executors and administrations shall, well and truly pay and Deliver or Cause to be paid and Delivered, unto Ann Jenny Usher, orphan of Edward Usher, deceased, all such Estate or Estates as now order, hereafter shall appear to be Due to the said orphan when and soon as she shall attain to Lawful Age or when thereto required by the said Justices of the said County Court of Augusta as also keep harmless the above named John Lewis and the rest of the Justices, their and Every of their heirs, executors. and administrators. from all troubles and Damages that shall or may arise about the said Estate, there this obligation to be void and of none Effect or Else to remain in full force and value. --- Sealed and Delivered In Presence of: James Knox. - Seal --- John Brown - Seal --- Andrew Pickens - Seal.

1745 - On 11 Feb 1745, Ann Jenny USHER came into Court and chose James KNOX her guardian, who and with John BROWN and Andrew PICKENS, his security, acknowledged a Bond for the settlement of the estate of her deceased father. It was the first fiduciary bond recorded in Augusta County. Morton, Oren F., HISTORY OF HIGHLAND COUNTY, VIRGINIA, pp.406-407.

Love

Family lore, recorded by Oren F. Morton in his HISTORY OF HIGHLAND COUNTY, VIRGINIA and his ANNALS OF BATH COUNTY, VIRIGINIA, tells us that Edward Usher eloped with the only daughter and sole heir of a member of the English anstocracy named Perry. On Usher's death, the widow attempted reconcilrlaration with her father but was rebuffed. Somehow, her three young daughters made their way to the Augusta colony, probably in the Dickenson settlement on the lower Cowpasture River , now in Bath County. Nothing further is known about the widow Usher, but her daughters all married early residents of Augusta County. Ann Jane married Loftus Pullin, Martha married Colonel John Dickenson, and Margaret married William Steuart, who lived on the upper Cowpasture River at the mouth of Shaw's Fork, now in Highland County. The histories of the Pullin and Dickenson families are told in THE BICENTENNIAL HISTORY OF BATH COUNTY, VIRGINIA 1791-1991 and that of the Steuarts, THE NEW HISTORY OF HIGHLAND COUNTY, VIRGINIA 1988, published by the respective county historical societies.

Family stories that makes our hearts glow with pride - the adventure - the romance. But - truth or fiction? The above story has some truth, I'm sure. But what about the falsehoods? Only daughter? Not! Sole heir? Not! Rebuffed? Not likely, for Jane is named in her father's will. Eloped with Edward? Tossup! Why would I said that! Edward is stated in his fahter-in-law will as Jane's first husband. Edward died before 1845 for his daughter Ann Jane was an orphan and the Augusta County court records bears this out. That kind of indicates Jane may have married again before the will was written. Jane is also listed as living in America as well as her brother, Joseph Perry in Maryland.

1720 --- "Edward USHER eloped with the daughter of an English nobleman named PERRY and came to America. Their four children were daughters, one dying in infancy. USHER died while they were yet small, and the widow went to England, hoping for a reconciliation with her father. He recognized her on the road as he drove by in his carriage, but being still angry he tossed her a shilling, telling her that was all she would have from him and that she must mind her brats herself. She returned to America, her children, if not also herself, finding their way to the Augusta colony, probably to Fort Dickenson. James KNOX became the guardian of Ann Jane USHER, and with a portion, at least, of her inheritance he purchased for her a negro girl. Several years later she married Loftus PULLIN. One sister (Margaret) married William STEUART, the third (Martha?) marrying (John DICKENSON) a son of Captain Adam DICKENSON. The stern parent finally relented and provided for his daughter by will. But the search he instituted failed to discover her, and no knowledge thereof coming to her descendants for many years, the matter went by default." Morton, Oren F., HISTORY OF HIGHLAND COUNTY, VIRGINIA, p.69. Morton, Oren F., ANNALS OF BATH COUNTY, VIRGINIA, p.201.

Usher Family Information

Ann Jenny (USHER) Pullin was the daughter of Edward Usher and Ann (Perry) Usher and the granddaughter of William PERRY of Dublin, Ireland.

She had two sisters:

Martha USHER m. abt 1759 to John DICKENSON (6 children)

Margaret USHER m. abt 1755 to William STEUART (7 children). THIS IS MY WIFE'S LINE.

Ann Jenny USHER married to Loftus PULLIN, Jr. and had eight known children.

I'm 83 years old and most of my research on this line was done many years ago. Here are some extracts from my notes and sources compiled in the 1970s. I suspect that you already have this information; but perhaps it might be of some help to you.

1742 --- The father of Colonel John DICKENSON who married Martha USHER, daughter of Edward USHER, was Adam DICKENSON, a leading pioneer on the lower Cowpasture River. He was living at Hanover, New Jersey in 1733. In 1742, he was an Ironworker in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, but seems to have moved in the same year to Prince George County, Maryland. It was there, in 1742, that he entered into a bond in favor of Thomas LINDSAY, whereby he was to patent 1,000 acres on Clover Creek, "otherwise ye Cow Pasture"; and place two families on the tract. Four years later, after removing to the Cowpasture, he brought suit against Roger HUNT, LINDSAY's assignee, for a failure to comply with the contract. Adam DICKENSON was appointed one of 21 justices in the first Augusta county court in 1745; and he alone represented the portion of the county west of Shenandoah Mountain. His grist-mill, licensed 12 February 1747, was the first in the region of Bath County; and the church built on his homestead was probably the first house of worship among the southern Alleghenies. Oren F. Morton ANNALS OF BATH COUNTY, VIRGINIA, p.38-39,52-53.

Deeds

1745 - On 2 April 1745, deeds for 2247 acres in the Calfpasture Valley were given by James PATTON and John LEWIS to William CAMPBELL, Jacob CLEMENS, Samuel HODGE, Robert GAY, Thomas GILLAM and William JAMISON. On 17 August 1745, other deeds for 5,205 acres were given by the same men to Francis DONALLY, Robert GWIN, Robert BRATTON, John DUNLAP, Loftus PULLIN, John WILSON, John KINCAID, John MILLER, Robert GAY, and James CARTER. - Oren F. Morton, A HISTORY OF HIGHLAND COUNTY, VIRGINIA (1979), p.64.

Acknowledgments

• This person was created on 13 September 2010 through the import of 124-DeCoursey.ged.
• Biography on Jane Perry Usher and Edward Usher.