John Chinn (abt. 1739 - bef. 1791)

Born about 1739 in Virginia

Ancestors

Descendants

Died before 21 Feb 1791 before about age 52 in Lancaster, Virginia, United States

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Biography

John Chinn was born in Virginia

John was born in 1717. He was the son of Joseph Chinn whose will was probated in May 1774.^[1]

He married Sarah Yates on 20 Feb 1765 in Middlesex County, Virginia.^[2]

Death

John Chinn passed away in Lancaster County 1791. He wrote his will 18 Jan 1791 and presented in court in Lancaster County on 21 Feb 1791.^[3] It mentions wife Sarah, five sons , two daughters and a granddaughter. He specifically referred to his "seven children", but there is something to think about here. He included what appears to be middle names for only two of the named children, i.e. John Yates and Sarah Yates. The granddaughter. Fidelia Downman, was apparently the daughter of John's daughter Priscilla (Chinn) Downman. John's father named three of his children in his will, written in Jun 1771. Since daughter Priscilla married Rawleigh Downman in May 1783,^[4] I am arbitrarily listing her as eldest child. I am also basing estimated birth years on John and Sarah's Mar 1765 wedding. His children, then, were::

1. Priscilla (Chinn) Downman, b. c. 1766
2. Joseph, b. c 1768
3. John Yates. b. c 1770
4. Bartholomew, b. c 1772
5. William, b. c 1774
6. Rawleigh, b. c 1776
7. Sarah Yates, b. c 1778
8. Elizabeth, b. c 1780

To reconcile this list with the phrase "seven children", it should be noted that when mentioning Priscilla Downman, he gave her 20 shillings and nothing more since he had already given her her share, presumably as a dowry when she married. He was referring to the division of the rest and residue of his estate when mentioning his "seven children"

Estate

John's estate passed probate on 21 Feb 1791.^[5][6]

Slaves

A number of enslaved were named in John Chinn's probate papers in 1791.^[6] The enslaved were sent to different members of the family at estate division 15 Oct 1792.^[7]

Research Notes

• This profile shows a daughter, Catherine Chinn, who reportedly married George Hall. First -- Catherine's birth date is 1765, four years before John married Sarah Yates, and could be from a different marriage. She might also have been deceased by 1791 when John wrote his will. Or it may be that she belongs to a different John Chinn. Secondly, there are discrepancies in that George died in 1736, before she was born. So, obviously, work needs to be done there as well.
• There is a profile for John Yates Chinn which contains the will of one Joseph Chinn^[1] which names Joseph's son John and grandson John Yates Chinn. This would mean that THIS John Chinn is NOT son of Rawleigh.
  • Additionally, to support that Joseph is father of John, father of John Yates, Joseph also names
    • granddaughter Priscilla Chinn
    • grandson Joseph, and, as stated above,
    • grandson John Yates
  • Joseph's will was written on 1 Jun 1771 which means that the above named grandchildren were born before that. John and Sarah Yates were married in Feb 1765. Without any of those conditions being met, these three children were born exactly nine apart. Not impossible, just very unlikely.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Probate: "Virginia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1652-1900"
   Will Book, 1690-1949 ; General Indexes to Wills, Etc., Ca. 1700-1977; Author: Virginia. Circuit Court (Lancaster County), Virginia. County Court (Lancaster County)
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 62347 #2098023 (accessed 4 February 2022)
   John Yates Chinn probate.
2. ↑ "Virginia, County Marriage Records, 1771-1989," database with images, FamilySearch, John Chinn, 20 Feb 1765; citing Marriage, Middlesex, Virginia, British Colonial America, Circuit court clerk offices, Virginia.
3. ↑ Unclassified: Film number: 007642297 > image 406 of 494
   FamilySearch Image: 3QS7-L9GY-39DY-T (accessed 25 May 2022)
   • 1791 Lancaster Co, VA Deed-Will Bk Vol 22 p.147
4. ↑ "Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940", database, FamilySearch, Priscilla Chinn in entry for Rawleigh W. Downman, 1783.
5. ↑ Probate: "Virginia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1652-1900"
   Deed and Will Books, 1652-1900 ; General Indexes, 1652-1900; Author: Virginia. County Court (Lancaster County); Probate Place: Lancaster, Virginia
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 62347 #1380376 (accessed 3 March 2022)
   John Chinn probate on 21 Feb 1791.
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} Unclassified: Film number: 007642297 > image 419 of 494
   FamilySearch Image: 3QS7-L9GY-39DY-9 (accessed 25 May 2022)
   • 1791 estate of John Chinn, Lancaster Co, VA, Deed-Will Bk 22 p.167
7. ↑ Unclassified: Film number: 007642297 > image 483 of 494
   FamilySearch Image: 3QS7-L9GY-39DV-L (accessed 25 May 2022)
   • 1791 estate of John Chinn, Lancaster Co, VA, Deed-Will Bk 22 p.292