Thomas Draper Sr. (abt. 1680 - 1735)

Born about 1680 in Richmond County, Virginia

Descendants

Died 10 May 1735 at about age 55 in North Farnham Parish, Richmond, Virginia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: James Draper [send private message]

Biography

ref> Thomas Draper (c 1690) from BillDraper.net

No documents are identified that show when or where Thomas (*) Draper was born, but based on the birth date of what we can assume was his first child, he was probably born between 1680 and 1690. The North Farnham Parish Registers record Richard Draper’s marriage, and the later births of Thomas’ children. This led to much early suspicion that Richard was the father of Thomas. This assumption claims Thomas was born in Richmond County since Richard was married there. Thomas and Richard were possibly related, but there is no evidence Richard is the father of Thomas.

The desire to make Richard the father seems to be based on the likelihood the he may be the only Draper married in the Rappahannock/Richmond County area at that time. But he is not the only alternative. If Thomas wasn’t born in Rappahannock (later Richmond County), the pool of possible parents grows significantly and includes potential fathers that make more sense but are not proven – primarily William Draper, the blacksmith from Lancaster.

As early as 1710, records show Thomas living in Richmond County. He married Sarah on 7 October 1711. Sarah’s surname is unknown, but the name Cleford has been suggested even though no evidence of Clefords has been located. 1 Their ten children were born in North Farnham Parish between 1711 and 1735, when Thomas died prematurely. All of the children were living with their parents at the time of his death, the youngest being two years old.  Thomas and Sarah had the following children, based on birth records in the North Farnham Parish Registers:

Elizabeth DRAPER  b. 7 October 1711, North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, VA; d. before 1746.  Married Robert Gibson in North Farnham Parish on 26 January 1731.

Judith DRAPER  b: 5 December 1713, North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, Virginia.  Married Paris Chipman in 1740.

William DRAPER  b. 1 November 1715, North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, VA; d. 16 October 1765.  Married Catherine in North Farnham Parish in 1740.

Mary Ann DRAPER  b. 25 March 1718, North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, VA; d. after 6 October 1761, Lunenburg County, Virginia.  Married Parmenus Palmer in Richmond County, Virginia on 25 November 1741.

Joseph DRAPER  b. 23 November 1719, North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, Virginia.

Joshua DRAPER  b. 25 Mar 1721, North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, VA; d. January  1792, Mecklenburg County, Virginia.  Spouse is never identified, only the children.

James DRAPER  b. 15 February 1724, North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, VA; d. June 1780, Nottaway Parish, Amelia County, Virginia.  Married Sarah Hanks in North Farnham Parish around 1744.

Katherine DRAPER  b. 21 September 1728, North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, VA: d. Possibly 9 June 1763, Richmond County, Virginia. 2

Solomon DRAPER Sr.  b. 20 May 1731, North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, VA; d. May 1807, Person County, NC.  Married Elizabeth (Harrison or Davey) in either Richmond or Amelia County around 1755.

Thomas DRAPER  b. 2 September 1733, North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, VA; d. 1812, Union County, SC.  Married Lucy Coleman in Union County, SC around 1753.

Thomas was already living in Richmond County when his first identified event took place in 1710. He could have had a first wife, but it is doubtful they had children. Not much of the evidence explains his occupation, except that he owned a mill, grew crops, worked in part as a carpenter, and owned a set of blacksmith’s tools at the time of his death. Thomas and Sarah were illiterate, something more likely for the child of a tradesman than a landed planter.  But he owned indentured servants and enough land to sell 100 acres to a neighbor, and continue to live in his current home. No deed has been located to suggest he patented or purchased the property, so it is possible the land was inherited. No Richmond County deeds for potential parents have been found.

Thomas Draper and the Law

Thomas had legal issues throughout his life. It would be interesting to hear his side of it. Court records in Richmond County Order Books do not always explain the facts of the cases, but leave a timeline and profile of Thomas and his friends and neighbors.

5 April 1710 - A case brought by Thomas Draper against Thomas Marshall is dismissed, plaintiff not prosecuting.

7 August 1713 - John Dalton’s action of debt against Thomas Draper is dismissed, the plaintiff not prosecuting.

5 August 1714 - Thomas Draper’s action of debt against Walter Wright is dismissed, the plaintiff not prosecuting.

5 April 1716 - Michaell Meldrum’s action of debt against Thomas Draper is dismissed, the plaintiff not prosecuting.  Thomas owed Meldrum three hundred pounds of good merchantable tobacco due by bill, but declined to show up at earlier court dates.

5 April 1716 - Thomas Draper’s court case against George Petty is dismissed, the plaintiff not prosecuting.

6 February  1717 - Judgment is granted to Henry Woodcock, assignee of John Stewart, against Thomas Draper for six hundred pounds of good, sound merchantable tobacco ”making oath to the best of his knowledge the same is justly due” which is ordered to be paid with costs.  Thomas had missed three earlier court dates.

6 February 1717 - An action of debt between John Doyle, plaintiff, and William Walker and Joseph Davis, defendants, for forty-two shillings and ten pence sterling due by bill, the defendants being called and not appearing on motion of plaintiff, judgment is granted him against Michael Meldrum and Thomas Draper, who returned securities for the defendants.

5 April 1717 - Michael Meldrum’s action of debt against Thomas Draper for three hundred pounds of good merchantable tobacco due by bill is dismissed, the plaintiff not prosecuting.

1 May 1717 - Thomas Draper gives oath in court proving William Stone’s will.  The will was dated 2 July 1711. 3 William appears to be the ancestor of the Stone family of Henry County, where they married several Drapers in the 1800s.

1 May 1717 - Thomas Draper witnessed Sarah Stone’s probated will.  Sarah is the relict of William Stone of Richmond County.

1 May 1717 – In an action of debt between Henry Woodcock, plaintiff, and Thomas Draper, defendant, defendant John Fann came into court and entered himself special bail for the defendant, and at the defendant’s motion for a special imparlance is granted him until the next court.

5 November 1718 - John Buxton’s action of debt against Thomas Draper and James Toone for three thousand six hundred pounds of tobacco due by bill is dismissed, the plaintiff not prosecuting.

6 November 1718 - An attachment is granted to Mary Doyle, Executrix of the Last Will and Testament of John Doyle, deceased, Plaintiff, against Thomas Draper, Defendant, for three hundred forty seven pounds of tobacco due by account, the defendant not appearing.

6 April 1720 - Thomas Barnes’ action against Thomas Draper is dismissed, plaintiff not prosecuting.  Thomas owed Barnes three hundred ninety-two and three quarters pounds of tobacco due by account, and Barnes had an attachment against Thomas’ estate.

6 April 1721 - William Rout’s action of debt against Thomas Draper is dismissed, plaintiff not prosecuting.

4 July 1722 - Thomas and Sarah gave bond to William Brockenbrough for 10,000 pounds of good tobacco and casque on condition they keep all covenants and agreements.

23 July 1722 - Thomas Draper and Sarah, his wife, sold a parcel of about 100 acres of land to William Brockenbrough for 5000 pounds of tobacco (or “five shillings of lawful money of England to me in hand paid by William Brockenbrough”).  The sale had to do with the statute for transferring uses into possession, and Brockenbrough “may be in the actual possession of the premises and be therefore enabled to accept a grant of the inheritance thereof to him and his heirs.”  Brockenbrough and heirs would live on the property “during the full time of one whole year paying therefore the rent of one ear of Indian corn on the feast day of the birth of our Lord next ensuing if lawfully demanded.”  The property was located in Richmond County “Beginning at a marked red oak standing in the line of Bedwell and corner tree to Henry Fan, and running along the line of Bedwell to a white oak, corner tree newly marked, thence along a line of now marked trees down to a branch known by the name of Christopher’s Branch, thence up the Maine branch to a line of marked trees that divides this land and ye land of Henry Fan, thence up the said line to the place where it first began; together with all houses, orchards and commodities.”  Signed Thomas (T his mark) Draper, Sarah (X her mark) Draper.  Witnesses: Richard (RC) Cornelias and Thos. Dew. 4

1 August 1722 - Thomas gave bond of 4000 pounds of tobacco to Brockenbrough to warrant the fulfillment of this deed.

31 July 1722 - (Recorded 1 August 1722) Thomas Draper, with the consent of Sarah, his wife, sold to Thomas Curtis for 3500 pounds of tobacco, all that parcel of 50 acres land in Farnham Parish and Richmond County on main Pocoson (a swamp) of Totesky Creek and on the south side of the Pocoson, and bounded by the Main Pocoson. Signed Thomas (T his mark) Draper, Sarah (S her mark) Draper. Witnesses: Richard Applebee, John Williams. 5

1 August 1722 - Thomas Draper and Sarah his wife acknowledge their release of the deed to Thomas Curtis for all that parcel of land containing fifty acres from a marked dogwood (the bounds are repeated as in the lease) already in his actual possession.

After the Death of Thomas Draper

2 June 1735 – The property of Thomas Draper is inventoried, but the Will Book is damaged and almost nothing can be clearly identified. 11

2 June 1735 – Sarah Draper’s bond as administratrix of Thomas Draper’s estate is recorded. Obligee: Richmond County JPs; Securities: Henry Miskell and William Stone of Richmond County 12

7 July 1735 – Thomas Draper’s Will was recorded. 13

7 July 1735 - Thomas Draper’s inventory was recorded. 14

30 November 1736 - William Draper, the son of Thomas, and Sarah Draper, Thomas’ widow, deeded to Jonathan Lyell for 6,000 pounds of “good, sound, merchantable tobacco to be paid at the rate of 1,000 pounds per year until paid”, a water mill with all the appurtenances and utensils, together with all its land. The mill and land was formerly built by Christopher Petty and sold by Petty to Mr. William Downman, and sold by Downman to William Stone, and sold by Stone to Thomas Draper, deceased. Signed William Draper, Sarah(S her mark) Draper. Witnesses: Charles Dodson, Metcalfe Dickenson, and Henry Miskell. 15

6 December 1736 - The mill was delivered to Jonathan Lyell by William Draper & Sarah Draper, when they entered the mill house, and seeing no other person being there, came out and delivered the handle of the mill door to Jonathan Lyell.

6 December 1736 - Sarah Draper presented to the Court in the court for inspection into his age, Tom, a Negro boy, who was judged to be thirteen years old.

7 February 1746 - Joseph Gibson and Sarah Draper, his grandmother, made an indenture with Luke Williams to bind Joseph, with his grandmother’s consent, to Williams for five years to learn the art of a Carpenter, and not to work at any other trade except to help Williams tend corn every summer during which time Joseph will not absent himself from William’s service. Luke Williams is obliged to teach Joseph Gibson the art & skill of the trade, “during the whole time to find for him sufficient Meat, Drink washing and Lodging and apparrell fitting for apprentices during the whole term and at the Expiration of his Service one new suit of Cloaths Viz one new Druggett Coat Vest and Britches two Shirt a pair of shoes and stockings and a new Hatt and one Sett of Carpenters tools.” Witness: George Miskell, Samuel Williams, and Cathron Walker. Acknowledged in Richmond County the Second day of March 1746 and ordered to be recorded.

2 March 1746 - Solomon Draper and Sarah Draper, his mother, made an indenture with John Harford to bind Solomon, with his mother’s consent, for five years to learn the art of a Carpenter and Cooper, except to assist Harford in tending corn every summer. John Harford is obliged to instruct and teach Solomon the art & skill of the trade, “and find for the said Solomon sufficient meat drink washing and Lodging during the whole time of his service and at the expiration of his Service to give unto said Solomon Draper one New suit of Cloaths Viz. One New Drugget Coat Vest and Breeches two new Shirts [one to be made of fine white Linnen] a pair of shoes and Stockings and one new hat and one Sett of good sufficient Carpenters tools.” Witnesses: H. Miskell and Harris Tune. 16

• Bill Draper.net: The Virginia Colony http://www.billdraper.net/html/virginia_drapers.html

• Source: S-2047177890 Repository: #R-2138127636 Title: Ancestry Family Trees Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members. Note: This information comes from 1 or more individual Ancestry Family Tree files. This source citation points you to a current version of those files. Note: The owners of these tree files may have removed or changed information since this source citation was created. Page: Ancestry Family Trees Note: Data: Text: http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=16746257&pid=2575
• Source: S-904005503 Repository: #R-1274706077 England & Wales Christening Records, 1530-1906 Ancestry.com Publication: Ancestry.com Operations Inc
• Repository: R-1274706077 Ancestry.com
• Source: S-904264394 Repository: #R-1274706077 Family Data Collection - Deaths Edmund West, comp. Publication: Ancestry.com Operations Inc
• Source: S-904277159 Repository: #R-1274706077 Family Data Collection - Individual Records Edmund West, comp. Publication: Ancestry.com Operations Inc
• Source: S-904277187 Repository: #R-1274706077 Family Data Collection - Births Edmund West, comp. Publication: Ancestry.com Operations Inc
• Source: S-904681126 Repository: #R-1274706077 Ancestry Family Trees Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members. Note: Ancestry Family Tree http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=42463438&pid=745

Acknowledgements

• WikiTree profile Draper-294 created through the import of Welder Family Tree.ged on Sep 10, 2011 by Deborah Anne Welder.