Richard Nelson – c1750-c1824
Hampshire and Mason Co., Virginia
From KS -3/12/2019 Richard Nelson died in Mason Co., VA, or at least he was probated there. He appears in the 1820 Mason Co. census and then an appraisement of his property is submitted 19 Jun 1824. James French administered his estate.
- 1820 Mason, VA – Richard Nelson M&F45+, M16-25, F10-15
Mason Co, VA Deed Bk F, p. 98 – Richard Nelson decd, property appraisement, dated 19 Jun 1824; Jos or Jas M Mullen, Will Prosser, Isaac Mayse
- At a court held for Mason County the 20th Sept 1824
Mason County Court Order Book 1821-1825 (image 648 &649 of 736) – On the motion of James French who made oath according to law and together with Reuben Hughs his security entered into and acknowledged their bond on the penalty of $1000 conditioned as the law directs certificate is granted him for obtaining administration with the will and testament of Richard Nelson decd in due form [Court held 19 Jul 1824]
Ordered that William M Prosser, John H. Prosser, Joseph McMullin, Isaac Mayse and John B Stephens or any three of them being first sworn before some Justice of the peace for the county do appraise the personal estate of Richard Nelson decd and return same to the court
- Mason County Court Order Book 1821-1825 (image 654 of 736) – On the motion of James French adminisr of the Estate of Richard Nelson decd who presents the appraisement of said estate and as a former order of this Court the same is ordered to be recorded [Court held 20 Sep 1824]
- The appraisement of the estate of Richard Nelson decd amounting to $ [blank] was returned to court by James French ecr & ordered to be recorded
NOTE, per family tradition: James French (c1800- ) m. Lucy Hughes, d/o Reuben Hughes. Died in Indiana. James French m. Lucy Hughes 14 Dec 1820, Mason Co. Virginia.
One of Richard’s children was James Nelson (b. c1775; d. 1826, Morgan Co., OH); married Priscilla (said nee Kennedy).
: Richard Nelson (c1750-bef 19 Jul 1824 Mason Co., VA) : + Elizabeth :: James Nelson (c1775-1 Feb 1826 Morgan Co., OH) :: + Priscilla Nelson said m. 30 Apr 1801 :: John Griffin Nelson (1777-1847 Madison Co., IN) :: + Mary ‘Polly’ Dickinson Arbuckle m. 22 May 1806 Gallia Co., OH :: Chloe Nelson (c1782-1851 Hampshire Co., VA) + John Powelson
James was in Morgan Co., OH by mid-1810s, per census birth-states of his children. He appears in 1820 Morgan Co., OH census. His LWT, dated 21 Feb 1826, provides for “two hundred and eighty one acres of land which I hold in Randolph County Virginia” to be sold and the proceeds divided among his children. He was of Wood Co., VA when, on 29 Feb 1808, he sold two of the three tracts that Richard Nelson bought in 1789 and in turn sold to James in 1800—leaving the 281a. tract addressed in his LWT. (See my Hampshire Co. Land Records for the 3 tracts.)
1820 Deerfield, Morgan,OH – James Nelson M&F45+ 2M<10, M10-15, 5F<10. 2F10-15, F16-25
LWT James Nelson of Deerfield, Morgan Co., OH, dated 21 Feb 1826 – First I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Priscilla Nelson all my whole estate…so long as she remains my widow…[names daughter Catherine Scott, sons John Nelson, William Davis Nelson and Thomas Nelson, 281a farm in Randolph County, VA, Thomas Risen and Rolla Risen who are named guardians for all underage children] exec=wife Priscilla; wit: John Sniff, Wm Massey
Ch: Catherine, Sarah, Elizabeth, Ruth, Eleanor, Thomas, Jane, Richard, John B, Nancy Ann, Mary Ann, William Davis, Priscilla.
Richard and his sons John and James account for virtually all of the early Hampshire Co. Virginia deeds (after John Neilson, merchant of King George Co., Virginia, in 1760s), to the point of Ross Nelson’s deed. This can be established by matching watercourses and other geographical boundaries (Dog Run, Clay Lick, Grassy Lick, Hairy / Harry Ridge, Plumb Lick Mountain, Horn Camp Run) as well as neighbors (including Robert French and John Lock, husband of Esther French).
It may be productive to sort out the Frenche's. Robert French was a frequent party, witness & on Richard, John & James’ deeds. James French administered Richard Nelson’s estate in Mason Co.; he was also a bordering property to Chloe Ann (Nelson) Powelson.
- C2-427: Surv. 19 July 1827 by T.W.9089=2 Nov 1826 Cloe Ann Powelson 79 A. 3 Ro in Hampshire Co. on Little Cacapehon, adj. John Powelson heirs. Patterson or Ridwell, James French 1767 grant. 22 Sep 1828 [Dl’d Mr. Kerchivall 23 Feb 1829]
VA Northern Neck Land Grants Vol 4, 1800-1862
- D2-313: Surv. 23 June 1832 by T.W.10,032 Elisha Gulick 15½ A. in Hampshire Co. on Little Cacaphon adj. John Powelson heirs, Ferdinand Gulick, Cloe Ann Powelson. 18 Nov 1834 [Mr. Vance Mar 1835]VA Northern Neck Land Grants Vol 4, 1800-1862
- D2-505: Surv. 9 June 1835 by T.Ws.11,199 A& 11,063 William Cool & Harburt Park 97 A. in Hampshire Co. on Black Lick Run & Clay Lick fork of Little Cacapehon adj. Cloe Ann Powelson, Harburt Cool heirs, Josias Corbin. 1 Oct 1837 [Dl’d Mr. G Park 23 Jan 1838] VA Northern Neck Land Grants Vol 4, 1800-1862
Although the Frenchs were mostly involved with the Richard Nelson line, I’m curious how the Henry French who was one of the early salt boilers in Jackson Co., OH fits in. Some of these Frenches (perhaps all of them) came from John French (b. c1710) whose wife Martha m2 Capt. Michael Cresap.
See:
- John Griffith Nelson and Polly Arbuckle married May 22th 1806 in Gallia Co., Ohio