John Chaffin (abt. 1696 - abt. 1773)

Born about 1696 in Cumberland and Goochland Counties Virginia

Descendants

Died about 1773 at about age 77 in Cumberland County, Virginia

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Biography

The will of John Chaffin was written June 26, 1767, executed and proven January 25, 1773 (Book 2, Page 84, Cumberland County, Virginia):

"In the name of God amen I JOHN CHAFFIN of Cumberland County being in my perfect sences and memory thanks be to God do make this my last will and testament as followeth: Item I give to my two sons Christopher and JOSHUA CHAFFIN one shilling sterling each. Item I give to my two daughters Rachel Smith and Ruth Bradley one shilling sterling each.

"Item I give to my son Joseph Chaffin the land and plantation whereon I now live containing two hundred acres to him and his heirs forever. I likewise give to my said son Joseph all the rest and residue of my estate of what nature or quality so ever and lastly I do appoint my son Joseph Chaffin executor of this my last will and testament."^[1]

Children by his will are: Christopher, Joshua and Joseph Chaffin, Rachel Smith and Ruth Bradley.

Name

John Chaffin is referred to by genealogists as "John of Cumberland and Goochland Counties of Virginia" to separate him from "John of Amelia County" and other Johns of that period.

Property

BET 1737 AND 1746

Land patent Goochland County, Virginia which was subsequently divided into other counties, including Cumberland County in 1749.

Research Notes

Per notes send to me (unknown) from Pamela Smith, I have quoted below an exact transcription of documents which I believe were authored by Bill Huckaby of Modesto, California. (Wiki abstract of these notes)

William Ladd Chaffin, published, in 1912, a book entitled, "History of Robert Chaffin and His Descendants and the other Chaffins in America". The author points out that "attempt at the "Virginia Branch" and the "Tennessee Branch" is full of supposition and inaccuracies and has to be discounted as a factual basis in any meaningful research"

Much of the research was done by Raymond Mozley of Sidney, Ohio and Jean Klein of Alton, Illinois. These notes had a lot to do with the Chaffins of Maury Tennesee

"JOHN CHAFFIN (ba 1696 da 1733) is the ancestor of the Maury County Chaffins. His parentage and the name of his wife is unknown."

"He is referred to by geneologists as "John of Cumberland and Goochland Counties of Virginia" to separate him from "John of Amelia County" and other Johns of that period".

"John obtained land patents in 1737, 1742, 1743 and 1746 totaling some 1300 acres in Goochland County, which was subsequently divided into other counties, including Cumberland County in 1749.

"He started dividing his land among his sons, Christopher and Joshua in 1753; his son, Joseph and sons-in-law, David Bradley and John Smith in 1757; and one grandson, Thomas Huccaby, Jr. in 1767.

"One would assume that Joseph was the youngest son and did not become of age until 1757 (being born about 1736). One would also assume that JOHN's grandson, Thomas Huccaby, Jr., did not become of age until 1767 (being born about 1746) and that his unnamed mother and father, Thomas Huccaby, Sr., were already dead in 1757 when land was distributed to the other sons-in-law.

Copy of the Will here

The known children of JOHN CHAFFIN are:

Christopher Chaffin (born abt. 1720, died abt 1768)

Joshua Chaffin (born abt 1725, died abt 1804)

**Joseph Chaffin (born abt 1736, died abt 1773)

Rachel Chaffin (married John Smith)

Ruth Chaffin (married David Bradley)

Nancy Caroline Chaffin (married Thomas Huccaby, Sr.)

From a post by John Fults at Rootsweb>: John Chaffin's father was married twice. His first wife was named Elizabeth. Their children were: Abner, Amos, Elias and William. John's second wife was named Mary. Their children were: Nathan, Lydia and John Jr. Mary died in 1797. Since I did not find a marriage record, I do not know her family name.

John and Elizabeth Chaffin were of Lunenburg County, VA. John died in 1779 from wounds he received at Valley Forge. His father, Joshua, my ancestor, was appointed the administrator of his estate. One son, Abner and four of his brothers moved from NC to Flynn's Lick, Jackson County, TN where they established the Chaffin Settlement on the road to Cookeville. Others suggest Amos and Abner's father was named either Joseph or Amos, and that his mother was Mary Moor(e). Mary Moor(e), was said to have died in Itawamba County at the age of 101.

Children Joshua CHAFFIN Sr. b: abt. 1720 in Charlotte Co., VA Christopher CHAFFIN b: 1727 Rachel CHAFFIN b: 1731 Ruth CHAFFIN b: 1733 Joseph CHAFFIN b: 1729

Generation 8
128. John Chafin, born December 20, 1726 in (Middlesex), VA; died Bef. March 22, 1773 in (Cumberland), VA. He was the son of 256. Christopher Chafin and 257. Sarah. He married 129. Mary.
More About John Chafin:
Individual Note: DTC52
Land Entry: 1741, (Goochland), VA53
Probate: January 25, 1773, (Cumberland), VA54
Tax: August 10, 1759, (Cumberland), VA55
Will: June 26, 1767, (Cumberland), VA56
53. Land Patent to John Chafin, Transcript of 1741 Land Patent to John Chafin on file.
54. Cumberland County, Virginia Will Book 2, 92, Appraisement of estate, 22 Mar. 1773 valued at L71.
55. Cumberland County, Virginia Tax Entries, 1759, 2 tithables.
56. Cumberland County, Virginia Will Book 2, 84
John Chaffin found in Freepages, RootsWeb
FamilyTreeMaker (http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~chafinmarsh/genealogy/chafin/hchafingenrept-06-04.pdf | accessed 24 Dec 2020)

• John Chaffin, "Thomas Chaffin The Immigrant Book Excerpts, LENNIE CARTER GENEALOGY"

Second Generation – sons of Thomas – Christopher and John

1. Christopher Chaffin I was born around 1690, in Westmoreland Co., Va. He married Sarah (Roberts?) around 1711. Christopher was a farmer. He was returning home from Maryland when he was killed by two runaway slaves in 1727 . He belonged to Christ Church Parish, the Church of England. He and Sarah had 5 children, all born and baptized in Christ Church Parish, Middlesex Co., Va.

Sarah married second John Davis on February 11, 1730, in Middlesex Co. She is listed as Sarah Chafter on this marriage license. She married third John Owen on July 30, 1732, in Middlesex Co. Her name is listed as Sarah Chaffin this time.

1. John Chaffin was born around 1690-1696, in Westmoreland Co., Va. The name of his wife is unknown. He died in January 1773, in Cumberland Co., Va. He owned 1,300 acres of land in Goochland and Cumberland Counties. He had 7 children.

John Chaffin born between 1690-1696, in Gloucester Co., Va. and wife unknown. He had 7 children. The remainder of the book traces Thomas’s son John Chaffin. 8a. Christopher Chaffin Sr. II was born in 1720, in Gloucester Co., Va. and wife Martha had 10 children: Simon, Hambo, John, Nathan S., Solomon, Stanley, Joshua, a daughter married Mark Andrews, Meredith T., and Christopher Jr. 8b. Joshua Chaffin 1720, in Goochland/Essex Co., Va. and Ester with children Thomas, John, Isham, Ester, Sally, Joseph, Ann, and Jesse. He died in Charlotte Co., Va. 8c. Rachel Chaffin 1730, and John Smith and son David. 8d. Ruth Chaffin 1732, and David Bradley 8e. A daughter married William Chumny and died before 1758 8f. Joseph Chaffin 1735, in Gouchland/Cumberland Co. and wives Mary and Nancy Ann Mitchell and children Rebecca, Rhoda, Stephen, Joshua, John, Joseph Jr. and Polly. He died in Bedford Co., Va. 8g. Nancy Caroline Chaffin 1725, and Thomas Huckaby and son Thomas, Jr. (https://lenniecartergenealogydotcom.wordpress.com/2016/09/26/thomas-chaffin-the-immigrant/ | accessed 27Dec2020)

• John Chaffin, "Our CHAFFIN Family, researched by Ira Chaffin of Salem, VA"

Another version of Chaffin Family History. "...Chaffin lines of southern Virginia in the 1700’s appear to be those whom John Chaffin/Chafin, died 1773 in Cumberland County, VA, was the progenitor. There is controversy about whether he was the son or brother of Christopher Chaffin, but the dates indicate that he was a son. He was living in Goochland County, VA before part of it became Cumberland County in 1749...John Chaffin/Chafin died 1773 in Cumberland County, VA. In his will his wife Mary was not mentioned, so she may have died before 1773. He does mention his children Joseph Chaffin, Rachel Chaffin Smith, Joshua Chaffin, Ruth Chaffin Bradley, and Christopher Chaffin. He does not mention his daughter Nancy Caroline Chaffin Huckaby who died about 1767 before the will was written. However, John Chaffin did deed to grandson Thomas Huckaby, Jr. “for love and affection” 130 acres where Thomas Huckaby, Sr. lived in Cumberland County." (https://mymartinsville.com/chaffin/index.php | accessed on 28Dec2020) Copyright© 2004-2020 MyMartinsville.com/MyHenryCounty.com

These records and researchers need to be investigated and the relevant information and sources collected here.

Sources

1. ↑ Copies and extracts of this document can be found on the internet, I've not seen an original to verify, but believe this is correct in the essentials~~~~