Gerrard or Garrard Trammell was born around 1701 in Stafford County in the Colony of Virginia. He is thought to have been named in honor of his mother Mary Garrard. He was a man of responsibility judging from his involvement in the church and the number of times he was witness to legal events. In recognition of this a good number of his descendants carry his name in various forms including Jarret.
We have two sources for his birth year: his tombstone indicates c. 1700, and a lawsuit involving land boundaries on Pimmett's Run in Fairfax County, Virginia, indicates c. 1702. The suit involved identifying the original starting point of an old property survey. The problem was resolved with the help of Gerrard Trammell, a witness to the original survey.
February 15, 1754 - Gerrard Trammell of Fairfax County aged 52 years "to prove a beginning tree of a tract of land formerly taken up and patented by John Hearle which is now the property of Benja. Sebastian, deposeth he well remembers a maple formerly standing on the side of great Pimmets Run but now down and decayed..."[1] John Harle's patent survey does indeed begin at a maple at the head of Pimmetts Run.[2][3]
Gerrard's wife's name was Mary, commonly said to be Javan. They lived on Pimmett's Run in Fairfax County near what is now called Falls Church, Virginia. He left a will, written in 1775 but not probated until 1786. The will names the following:[4]
He passed away on Jun 23, 1786.[5]
The birth order and ages of the children are worthy of discussion. Gottschalk makes much of the fact that Gerard Trammel had a lease of land from Alexander Scott in 1733. The lease appears to be a "three lifetime" lease, one that typically extends for the lifetimes of the parents and one of their children and was commonly used for land in the Northern Neck of Virginia. In this case the lease was for the lives of Gerrard, Mary, and son Phillip. Gottschalk supposes Phillip was a newborn as no other children were named but this interpretation is not correct-- the leases simply named three people. The general custom was to name the youngest son but there were many exceptions including the naming of daughters. The will appears to name the children in birth order. Phillip was thus eldest, but given his father's birth around 1701 Phillip may have been born prior to the 1732 commonly given. We might guess the children were born 1725-1745 or so.
11 Jul 1733 - Alexander Scott leases "to Gerrard Trammell of Truro Parish, planter, and to Mary his wife and to Phillip Trammell their son 200 acres whereon the said Gerrard Trammell now lives."[6]
17 Mar 1735 - Gerrard Trammill and John Gladden co-sign the bond posted by Richard Rutter as administrator of the estate of George Goodin, dec'd.[7]
18 Jun 1735 - Gerard Trammel witnesses the inventory taken by William Harl of the estate of John Rhodery, dec'd. Prince William County.[7]
13 Mar 1740 - Richard Drakefoot writes his will. Gerrard Tramel is a witness and also signs bond for the executrix.[7]
22 Jun 1741 - Gerard Trammel and John Murphy post bond for Hannah Williams, admx. of William Williams.[7]
1741 - Garret and William Trammel are on a voter poll list in Prince William County.
1742 - Fairfax County is created.
17 Jul 1742 - Gerrard Tramel and William Harle are granted 547 acres in Prince William County on the branches of Accotink Run, adjacent Col. Mason, dec'd, and Messrs. Watts and Harrison.[8]
1754 - He is Constable and Surveyor of Roads in Fairfax County.[9]
11 Dec 1755 - Gerrard Trammell and Phill Trammel are on the Fairfax list of voters who polled for Capt. John West.[10]
1756 - Gerard signs bond for Mary Javan, adm'x of Nicholas Javan.[11]
1760 - Gerrard Trammell is a leaseholder in Fairfax County, working 200 acres of land belonging to James Scott at the head of Pimmit Run. He owns one slave.[12][13]
1 Jul 1767 - Gerrard Trammell is one of a number people deposed in a land cause of Nathaniel Pendleton vs. the estate of Charles Alexander. His age is given as 56 instead of 66.[14]
1767 to 1776 - He serves as Sexton of the church.[15]
16 Nov 1775 - Gerrard Tramel writes his will. Fairfax County, Virginia. Wife Mary and son Gerrard are named executors.[16] Gerrard willed to his grandson, Gerrard, a "still and worm". Apparently he supplied liquor to Lindsay's old Tavern.[17]
1782 - Gerrard Trammell and Gerrard Trammell Jr. are the sole members of the family on the tax list of Fairfax County. The elder man is taxed for one white poll, three black polls, two horses and eight cattle.[18]
23 Jun 1786 - He dies and is buried at Falls Church Episcopal Church Cemetery in Falls Church, Virginia. The tombstone gives his age as 86 years.[5]
Jul 1786 - The will is probated.[16]
Dec 1786 - Inventory of the estate is taken.[19] The sale occurred in July 1787.[20]
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Categories: Falls Church Episcopal Church Cemetery, Falls Church, Virginia | Patriotic Service, Virginia, American Revolution | NSDAR Patriot Ancestors | Virginia Colonists