Ephraim Vance (abt. 1718 - aft. 1760)

Born about 1718 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Ancestors

Husband of Theodosia (Hewlings) Vance — married 11 Jul 1738 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Descendants

Died after 14 Apr 1760 after about age 42 in York County, Pennsylvania

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Biography

Ephraim Vance was a Virginia colonist.

Captain Ephraim Vance served with the British Army during the French and Indian War.
Service Started: January 27, 1760
Unit(s): Augusta County, VA Regiment
Service Ended: April 2, 1765

Added by Reg Shrader

Name also given as Vause. DOB also given as 1715 POB also given as Lancaster Co, VA.

Son of Andrew Vance (b. ca. 1680 in Ireland-d. 1754 in Frederick Co, VA) and Jane Hoge (b. ? in Ireland-d. 26 May 1789 in Washington Co, VA). They were married in Fermanagh, Ireland.

Ephraim married Theodosia Hewlings (1772-?) in Philadelphia, PA, on 11 Jul 1738 ^[1]. They had seven children (all born in Isle of Wight Co, VA): Alexander (ca. 1712-?); Thomas (1739-?); William (1741-?); Elizabeth "Deliz" (ca. 1745-Dec 1778); Levice (Leevice or Levisa) (1746-?); Jessee (?-?); unnamed male (1748-?)

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION CAME FROM THE CHRONICLES OF THE SCOTCH-IRISH SETTLEMENT IN VIRGINIA. These are extracts of the original court records of Augusta County Virginia, 1745-1800. Deed book #2. Page 408. 28th, Feb, 1749, EPHRAIM VAUSE to Joseph LOVE, 200 acres on Goose Creek. Corner William BEWES. Teste: Francis BEATY, William DUNLAP, George ANDERSON. Deed book #2. Page 503. 28th, Feb, 1749. EPHRAIM VAUSE to William MCCURRY, 248 acres on South Branch Roanoke. Teste: Nathanial EVINS, Adam BRECKENRIDGE, Tobias SMITH. Deed book #2. Page 599. 1st, Mar, 1749. EPHRAIM VAUSE to James NEALEY, 245 acres. Corner Francis BEATY. Deed book #6. Page 136. 4th, Jan, 1754. PATTON to Thomas LUTTENTON, 120 acres, part of tract patented to PATTON 3d, Nov, 1750, on South Fork of Roanoke, also West fork, Cor. to John BRUNEGAR. Teste: THEODOSIA and EPHRAIM VAUSE. Deed book #7. Page 235. 19th, Apr, 1755. Robert BOX to EPHRAIM VAUSE, 5sh., 179 acres by patent 22d, Aug, 1753, on a branch on the North side the Little River. Teste: Hugh MEANS, proved 1755 by James NEELY and James CAMPBELL, and 20th, Nov, 1771 by Hugh MEANS, (p.340). Deed book #8. Page 312. 5th Apr, 1760. EPHRAIM VAUSE to John MADISON, 1 parcel containing 360 acres and 1 parcel containing 320 acres adjoining and lying on Meadow Creek, a branch of Roanoke, whereon VAUSE formerly dwelt, patented to him 15th, Dec, 1749. Deed book #10. Page 169. 14th, Apr, 1760. EPHRAIM VAUSE to John STEWART and John GIVEN, 179 acres on the Little River.

INFORMATION ABOUT FORT VAUSE in the Vicinity of Christiansburg, Montgomery Co., Virginia.

At his own expense VAUSE built a fort known as fort VAUSE which guarded a strategic pass in the Alleghenies open to both Southern and Northern Indians. French aiding Indians in fighting white settlers on the frontier. Apparently 205 Indians and 25 French Canadians left fort Miami Ohio intending to travel 500 miles to fort VAUSE area and then go on to Williamsburg. Residents along the way between fort Miami and fort VAUSE fled as the French and Indians made their way toward Williamsburg. They arrived at fort VAUSE about the 16th of June 1756. They stayed in and around the area, and attacked on June 25th, 1756. At about 9:00 AM, the French asked those in the fort to surrender. They refused! At about 10:00 AM, the fort was set afire. The VAUSE family and others barricaded themselves in their cabins, which were set afire about 4:00 PM that evening. Many of the surviving residents of the fort were tortured on the spot. VAUSE'S servants who had been away from the fort at the time of the attack returned. Upon seeing what was happening they fled. They came upon PRESTON and a few men who were on their way to help. The servants told what they had saw, and PRESTON felt that the most prudent thing was to warn other settlers immediately, this was done rather than advancing to the fort. All residents of the area left. This was about 3:00 PM, which was too late to help at the fort anyway, PRESTON was still 3 miles away. The residents of the fort that survived were captured, 150 or so, and were led back to Shawnee villages. Leevice VAUSE, daughter of EPHRAIM, was taken prisoner along with her mother. When peace was made in 1763, she returned home and told how she was dragged along by the Indians. When she got the chance she would gut her name into the bark of sycamore and beech trees, thus giving her name to the Levisa Fork and Leevice Ford. She also told of how she had watched as her families clothes were torn off, and watched them die as their scalps were hung up to dry.

Per Tim Vance, the author of the foregoing, THIS INFORMATION IS NOT TO BE USED FOR DOCUMENTATION, DO NOT USE THIS INFORMATION TO DOCUMENT PROOF OF BIRTH, PARENTS, DEATH, OR FOR ANY OTHER REASON. THIS INFORMATION HAS NOT BEEN PROVEN BY OFFICIAL RECORDS.

"Ephraim Vause, born abt 1718 married Theodocia Hulling (! sb Hewlings), July 11, 1738 at the First Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia. It is supposed that Ephraim's forebearers were among the German Palatines from the banks of the Rhine and the Neckar, who entered the colonies through Delaware Bay in the early 1700's. In 1746 Ephraim had patented land in Augusta County on the Virginia Frontier. His name first appears in the Augusta County Deed Books in Jan 1746 when he received a grant of 200 Acres . The site of Old Fort Vause known today in Shawsville, Montgomery County, Virginia." http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~familiesforever/vause.htm

• Fort Vause was attacked and burned by Shawnee. Theodosia Vause & 2 daughter captured by Indians 1756 in Indian attack on Vause's Fort. 2 son were not captured as they had gone to the mill that day. Accounts are confusing as to whether Ephraim was captured and then escaped.

French aiding Indians in fighting white settlers on the frontier. Apparently 205 Indians and 25 French Canadians left fort Miami Ohio intending to travel 500 miles to fort VAUSE area and then go on to Williamsburg.

Residents along the way between fort Miami and fort VAUSE fled as the French and Indians made their way toward Williamsburg. They arrived at fort VAUSE about the 16th of June 1756. They stayed in and around the area, and attacked on June 25th, 1756. At about 9:00 AM, the French asked those in the fort to surrender. They refused!

At about 10:00 AM, the fort was set afire. The VAUSE family and others barricaded themselves in their cabins, which were set afire about 4:00 PM that evening. Many of the surviving residents of the fort were tortued on the spot.

VAUSE'S servants who had been away from the fort at the time of the attack returned. Upon seeing what was happening they fled. They came upon PRESTON and a few men who were on their way to help. The servants told what they had saw, and PRESTON felt that the most prudent thing was to warn other settlers immediatly, this was done rather than advancing to the fort. All residents of the area left. This was about 3:00 PM, which was too late to help at the fort anyway, PRESTON was still 3 miles away.

The residents of the fort that survived were captured, 150 or so, and were led back to Shawnee villages.

Name

Name: Ephraim /Vause/

Given Name: Ephraim

Surname: Vause^[2]

Name: Ephraim /Vause/

Source: Details: Ancestry Family Trees

Notes

Note: #NI223716

Note: #DWNLNOTE

Note DWNLNOTE

Joel Hager's Southern West Virginia Research Thanksgiving 2013

The Vances were in Frederick, Augusta, Pittsylvania, Montgomery and Washington County. Some moved to North and South Caronia like so many other families. Some returned to Virginia. The ones I mentioned either did not leave or came back to Virginia and ended up in Washington County. I am sure you already know this but for the sake of discussion. Pittsylvania formed in 1767 from Halifax County and Halifax formed from Lunenburg in 1752.

Henry County formed in 1777 from Pittsylvania. Botetourt formed in 1770 from Augusta. Fincastle formed in 1772 from Botetourt. Washington County formed in 1777 from Fincastle County. So I tried looking in Augusta County.

Like so many others I found one occurance of Ephraim Vause spelled Vance.

But his name was Vause. Like in Vause's Fort.

Ephraim Vause is refered to as Capt. and see below (453) Ephraim Vance, qualified Capn. of Horse on MARCH 18, 1753.

I am begining to think Ephraim Vance did not exist either. There are Vances named Patrick, James, John, Thomas, Samuel and Matthew/Mathias in Augusta County though.

Joel

I am sure there are many others who are searching the facts on Ephraim Vaus; you are participants who have emails that can be contacted on Roots Web.

On one of my many journeys looking for information on my Vance line found some information that I believe you will find most useful to your search on the death of Ephraim Vaus.

While in Philadelphia, Nov 2006 with Janice Vance another Vance reseracher, I came across a book called Philadelphia County Wills, that listed the name Ephraim Vaus as having court documents relating to a Will. In fact, it was not a Will but an Administrators Bond filing for a Letter of Administration for Ephraim. The Bond say it was recorded May 30th, 1761, exact date of death is not given. The administrator is "Daniel Hopewell of Burlington County Yeoman, principal of Ephraim Vaus of York County gent. desc'd".

The story does not end here. Once I read the document it intrigued me so I persued other avenues. I made some inquiries on Ephraim in York County, to my surprise was another Administrators Bond. This one with the same year of death but filed February 17th, 1761. The bond says this, "Know all Men by these present, that We John Test, Conrad Holtzbaum, and John Wagner all of County of York, province of Pennsylvania"; listed as given "Letter of Administrations" etc. With one catch to this Bond, the name is spelled Ephrain Voss.

I contacted York County archives once again and had them look to see if there were any other documents related to this. There were no Voss, Vaus etc children listed in Ophans Court Records, nor could an inventory be located. With an "Administrators Bond" no Will was written. Now with that said, I have not made a trip to York County to verify this. I had planned to search out more information on Ephraim but thought it was time to share what was found. On these documents are listed no children, wife etc. But I now believe that Ephraims death can now be added as prior to Feb. of 1761. I will leave it up to you Vaus descendants to figure out the rest.

I have a few suggestions. Being that Ephraim was in York County as a resident upon his death, look for an inventory anyways. Also check newspapers of all 3 areas Philly, Burlington, York, for at least 3 months before to 3 months after. Men with multiple listings of property would have required an death recorded so that peoples who owed or whom Ephraim owed money could come forward to claim or pay their debts. Its probable that Ephraim had property or family in all 3 counties being they were involved.

I find it strange that no children were named nor not one was listed as an administrator. That is the part that intrigued me. However if Ephraim was a wealthy man, the family (if there was one, or they may be grown, or whatever) may of had lawyers doing this kind of work for them. Especially if they were spread out in other areas such as Virginia or North Carolina, or even Europe, Ireland etc. Just a thought. Burlington County may be another avenue to search being Daniel Hopewell was from that area, and not of Philly or York County. Now there could be more than one Ephraim Vaus in this world, but if the stories on the web are correct most have Ephraim going back to Philly after the raid.

I had planned to do more on this but just do not have the time and wanted to get it out there so that others can benefit from my work. I can share the originals if anyone is willing to search out more on Ephraim, but credit given where it is due to myself and Janice Vance. I pray that you make headway going further.

Sincerely,

Barbara Cherep

P.S. I have a copies of newspaper articles of that time written on the raid of Vaus Fort if you want them too.

Arnold please share this with Tim.

Nancy I will post these to your site also.

<http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/augusta/court/or3-55.txt>

Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia

Volume I

AUGUSTA COUNTY COURT RECORDS.

ORDER BOOK No. III. (cont.)

November 19, 1746.

(131) Road ordered from Ridge dividing waters of New River from waters of So. Br. Roanoak to end in a road that leads over the Blue Ridge--James Cambell and Mark Evans, overseers. Old Mr. Robinson and his sons, Thos. Wilson and his two sons, Wm. Beus and his brother, all the Ledfords, Saml. Brown, Henry Brown, Saml. Niely, James Burk, James Bean, Francis Estham, Ephraim Voss and servants, Francis Summerfield, John Mason, Tasker and Thomas Tosh, John and Peter Dill, Uriah Evans's sons, Mathuselah Griffiths and sons, John Thomas, Peter Kender.

MARCH 18, 1753.

(453) Duncan McFarland and his son, William.

(453) Ephraim Vance, qualified Capn. of Horse.

(454) John Pickens vs. James Price } Dedimus to Anson Co. No. Co. to take deposition of Henry Jones.

(455) Robt. McClenachan claims a 21 yr. lease on lots 1 and 2 in Staunton on which the Co. Ho. stands, and a new Co. Ho. is about to be built on same lots. Court is of opinion that the order of Court and McClenachan's lease

Page 58

in pursuance thereof were contrary to law, but the Court could not crush it. Comrs. appointed to confer with a lawyer practising in Genl. Court and have lots reconveyed.

AUGUST 17, 1753

(5) Alexr. McNutt chose John Brownlee his guardian. Esther Robinson qualifies Admx. of decd. husband, James Robinson. Appraisers are John Robinson, Ephraim Voss, Isaac Taylor, James Campbell.

MARCH 21, 1754.

(116) Richard Hadley and Wm. McDaniel, servants of Ephraim Vance.

MARCH, 1758 (B).

Wood vs. Vanse.--Know all men, &c., we, Ephraim Vanse (Vause?) and George Robinson are held, &c., to Col. James Wood, of Frederick County, &c., &c. Dated 23d September, 1747. Test, Robert Rutherford, John Robinson.

MAY 19, 1758.

(160) Ephraim Vanse, removed out of the Colony.

Volume II

Page 76.--8th April, 1751: Thos. Bens (Bins) complains before Erwin Patterson that goods were stolen out of house of Wm. Bens, and he believes that Joseph McCurry stole the goods, and that the wife of said Wm. Bins is in company with said McCurry. Memorandum of goods found in hands of Joseph McCurry and Rebecca Bins delivered to Ephraim Vanse, Jonathan Proctor, Thomas Parkers in Company this 8th day of April, 1751.

Volume III

Page 40.--1st May, 1747. Isaac Bean's appraisement by Ephraim Vause, James Neelley, Erwin Patterson. Laboring wages from Robert Ellison.

Page 191.--10th March, 1748. Mark Evans' appraisement by Ephraim Vause, James Nelley, Joseph Robinson.

Page 408.--28th February, 1749. Ephraim Vause to Joseph Love, 200 acres on Goose Creek. Corner William Bewes. Teste: Francis Beaty, William Dunlapp, George Anderson.

Page 503.--28th February, 1749. Ephraim Vause to William McCurry, 248 acres on South Branch Roanoke. Teste: Nathanial Evins, Adam Breckenridge, Tobias Smith.

Page 599.--1st March, 1749. Ephraim Vause to James Nealey, 245 acres. Corner Francis Beaty.

Page 155.--17th May, 1749. James Robinson's inventory and appraisement by Ephraim Vause, John Meason, Richard Hall.

Page 321.--10th August, 1750. Appraisement of Saml. Brown, on Round Oak, by Ephraim Vause, Wm. Buis, Thomas Buis. 7th November, 1750. Appraisement of above on Cowpasture, by Hugh Coffey, Elicksander Mealray, Jno. Donaley.

Page 316.--18th May, 1753. William Daubnee Cawthon (Dabne Cowthon) and Ursula (Ursley) to Thomas Breneger, 50 acres, part of tract conveyed to Cawthon, 21st March, 1753, on Bradshaw's Creek of Roanoak. Teste: Esther Robinson and Wm. Robinson, Wm. Preston, Ephram Vorse.

Page 136.--4th January, 1754. Patton to Thomas Luttenton (Littleton), 120 acres part of tract patented to Patton 3d November, 1750, on South Fork of Roanoke, also West Fork. Cor. to John Brunegar. Teste: Theodosia and Ephraim Vause.

Page 36.--March, 1754. James Robertson's inventory by Jas. Campbell, Ephraim Voss, John Robeson.

Page 235.--19th April, 1755. Robert Box to Ephraim Vause, 5 sh., 179 acres by patent 22d August, 1753, on a branch on the north side the Little River. Teste: Hugh Means. Proved, 1755 by James Neelly and James Campbell, and 20th November, 1771 by Hugh Means.

Page 312.--5th April, 17(i0. Ephraim Vause to John Madison, ¹300, 1 parcel containing 360 acres and 1 parcel containing 320 acres adjoining and lying on Meadow Creek, a branch of Roanoke, whereon Vause formerly dwelt, patented to him 15th December, 1749.

Page 267.--17th August, 1758. Peter Kender's (Kinder? Ginder?) estate, account with Alex. Wright, administrator--To sundries from 22d August, 1748, to 22d August. 1749. Paid Erwin Patterson, Patrick Vance, for wages. Paid Alex. Ingram (4 days writing). Paid Ephraim Vause for crying the vendue. Paid Francis Cyphers, Henry Brown, Geo. Griffith. These did not pay for goods bought at vendue, viz: Joseph Kimmins, James McAfee, Jean Patterson, John Gold, Joseph McDonald, David Robinson.

Page 169.--14th April, 1760. Ephraim Vause to John Stewart and John Given, ¹40, 179 acres on the Little River (description omitted).

Page 540.--2d July, 1762. John Given and John Stewart and Sarah ( ) to Hugh Lenox and William Scott, merchants of Spottsylvania, ¹120, 179 acres on a branch on north side of the Little River of New River, patented, 22d August, 1753, to Robert Box and conveyed by Ephraim Vause to said John Given and John Stewart, 14th April, 1760. Teste: James Ward. Acknowledged and privy examination.

Vance Newsletter 1991

In Philadelphia, Pa., adjoining Burlington Co., N. J.: 1761 — Vause, Ephriam, Adm. — G 262 File 107.

Sources

1. ↑ Presbyterian Historical Society; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; U.s., Presbyterian Church Records, 1701-1907; Book Title: Church Register 1701-1746; Accession Number: V Mi46 P477rr V.1. [1]
2. ↑ Source: #S99

• Ancestry.com Message Board, “Ephraim Vance or Vause—Notes & Research by Tim Vance”

Originally shared by fiddlestix2007 on 14 Jan 2010 [This is from Tim Vance's "Abner Vance's Homepage" under VAUSE Information (Ephraim VAUSE). On the web at: timothyv.tripod.com/index-29.html].

• Kegley's Virginia Frontier by F.B. Kegley; 1938
• Williams, Ralph Heulings - copies of documents sent to me 12/23/1996 and materials including research by Leona Louise Johnson Strothard Rourke. Her sources included "Documents Relating to Colonial History of NJ", first Series, Vol XXXII; Claendar of NJ Wills, Vol III (1751-1760; "The Hewlings Ancestry of Richard W. Allen" by Thomas Butler, Philadelphia, 1944
• Vance Family Ass'n Newsletter; published quarterly 1985-2000