James Sammons (abt. 1748 - 1805)

Born about 1748 in Colony of Virginia

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 28 Jun 1805 at about age 57 in Lunenburg County, Virginia, United States

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Biography

James was born about 1748.^[1]
He was likely the son of William Sammons and Rebecca Avey (Ivey).
William had a brother named James III who this James could have been named for.^[2]
William Sammons and James both appeared in 1787 census of Lunenburg Co, Va [though these could have been brothers, not father and son, yet William seems to have left Surry/Sussex Co and gone to Lunenburg Co]
James III had a son James IV, 1748-1853, who m Elizabeth Passmore. So perhaps William also had a son named James, b about 1748.

He married Sarah "Sally" Stembridge. (or Steinbridge--his daughter, Fanny's mother-in-law, Ann Crafton Tatum had a brother who married a Steinbridge in that area, so perhaps "Stembridge" is a misreading of Steinbridge")

They had 5 children: Frances, Robert, Elizabeth, Mary, Rebecca.^[3]

[There is a marriage^[4] of a James Sammons and Salley Hearn, May 11, 1803, Sussex Co, VA. This is too late to be the mother of his children, but it might be a second wife, or a completely different man. Sussex Co was a couple of counties east in 1800, and seems to have had other Sammons family there.]

He died June 28, 1805, Lunenburg County, VA.

Abstract of James Sammons will:^[5]
Lunenburg Co., VA. Deed Book 20/1804-1806
28 June 1805 --
Names:
Thomas Crafton & wife Polley, [his daughter Mary]
Robert Sammons & wife Becky, [his son]
John Roberts & wife Rebecca, [his daughter]
James Cavender & wife Elizabeth, [his daughter]
Reuben Tatom & wife Fanny [his daughter] to Danny Crenshaw,
all of Lunenburg Co., pounds 180, 136 1/2 ac; Lunenburg Co., each side Juniper Crk, being land that fell to them at death of James Sammons decd,
adj Samuel Jordan, Richd Williams, Daniel Crenshaw.
Wit: William Crenshaw, William Sammon, Coleman Jennings, Benjamin Roberts, Christopher Smithson, Abner Crenshaw, Travis Broocks, Banister Jordan, Jno Pettus
Sig: Thomas Crafton, Mary Crafton, Robt Sammons, Elizabeth Sammons, John Roberts,
James Cavender, Elizabeth Cavender, Reuben Tatum, Fanny Tatum, Becky Roberts
Recorded:10 July 1806

Often a will will list the children by their order of birth, so since Frances was b about 1781, the children's ages can be assumed to be:
Mary, abt 1768 (then her father must be b before 1748)
Robert, abt 1770 (he married in 1789, so was 19 if born in 1770)
Rebecca, abt 1775 (she married in 1789, so she was 15 if born in 1775)
Elizabeth, abt 1778 (she married in 1793, so was 15 if born in 1778)
Frances, abt 1781 (she married in 1798, so was 17 if born in 1781)

Sally must have moved to Tennessee with her children. Her will of 1837 (served 1844, settlement 1846, Williamson Co, TN) names her daughters, Rebecca Roberts, Fanny Tatum, and Elizabeth Cavender.

Sources

1. ↑ Birth date estimate from his daughter Frances' birthdate and marriage dates of his children.
2. ↑ William's siblings - https://www.genealogy.com/forum/surnames/topics/sammons/869/
3. ↑ Children all mentioned in his will.
4. ↑ Marriage - https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XR7X-9Z7
5. ↑ Will - https://www.genealogy.com/ftm/m/e/d/Brenda-Gail-Medley/WEBSITE-0001/UHP-0371.html