text:
Robert P. Moore [e-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com], 176 Valley Rd., Lexington, Ky.
[In order to shorten the text below, abbreviations will be used in referring to
Westmoreland Co., Va. documents. The early Westmoreland records have been
transcribed, abstracted and published by John F. Dorman and by Sam and Ruth
Sparacio. Dorman has done the earliest deeds and wills and some order books,
while the Sparacios have continued the transcription of the deed and will books
where Dorman left off. It will be noted that in the early years Westmoreland
Co. deeds and wills are all in the same books. These are the abbreviations that
will be used for the original document books: D&W = Westmoreland Co. Deeds
and Wills; WOB = Westmoreland Co. Order Book Transcriptions by Dorman will be
abbreviated WDWD and WOBD plus the appropriate book numbers or inclusive years,
while the Sparacio transcriptions will be designated by WDWS plus the
appropriate years. For those who wish to look for these published
transcriptions, Dorman's transcriptions of the order books are called
Westmoreland County, Virginia Order Book plus the inclusive dates, and the deed
and will transcriptions are called Westmoreland County, Virginia Deeds and Wills
plus the book number and dates, while the Sparacio transcriptions through 1742
are called Deed & Will Abstracts of Westmoreland County, Virginia, and from
that point on they are called Westmoreland County, Virginia Deed & Will
Abstracts. The Sparacio transcriptions are identified by inclusive years, while
Dorman uses the original book numbers but also includes the years. The Sparacio
transcriptions are published at The Antient Press, 1320 Mayflower Drive,
McLean, Va. 22101, while Dorman's were published under his own name in
Washington, D.C. The place of publication will not be repeated in the
references to follow, but the years will. The early Orange Co. records have
also been transcribed by Dorman and the Sparacios.]
[Asterisks mean that I do not yet have an adequate reference to the published
transcription of the document.]
There are two frequent major mistakes regarding the Ransdells. Edward
Ransdell's widow was not Amy Wharton, there being no such person. Nor can it be
proved that the first wife was Mary Gorham, although that is possible. His
widow Amy was Mrs. Amy Kelly when he married her. So far as I know, her maiden
name is not known, although Ed Ransdell thinks it might have been Doniphan.
There certainly was an Alexander Doniphan, and Amy named a Kelly child
Alexander. She is not the mother of any of Edward's children. See more about
her below.
The second major error is that William Ransdell, settler in Mercer Co., Ky. was
NOT the son of William Ransdell and Mary Chilton of Fauquier Co. Do not rely,
for this and other questions, on the research of E. Porter Ransdell, which I
found in a little booklet at the library of the Kentucky Historical Society.
Some of his claims are impossible. He may have been relying on the work of
James L. Kendall of Jeffersonville, Indiana, whose perhaps preliminary
manuscript I have seen at the Filson Club in Louisville. E.P. Ransdell,
however, did not think in the way a genealogist should and made some serious
misinterpretations. Kendall speculated that it was possible that William
Ransdell who came to Mercer Co., Ky. was the son of William Ransdell and Mary
Chilton of Fauquier Co. E.P. Ransdell apparently took this as a fact. In
published form later on, though, Kendall called William the son of John
Ransdell, which is much more likely. Also risky in some areas is the published
research of Ron Donaldson. As with most of us, he is most capable in the area
of most direct interest. See "Thornton of Richmond County, Virginia"
by Dr. B. C. Holtzclaw in Historical Southern Families, vol. 12, 1968,
published by J.B. Boddie for a well-researched article as it regards the
Ransdells of Orange Co., Va., the family of John and his probable son, William
of Mercer Co. Dr. Holtzclaw also gives some documentation for the generations of
Edward and his children. There is also good research in the typescript of
William K. Ransdell at the Kentucky Historical Society library.
William of Mercer Co., Ky. came from Orange Co., Va., not Fauquier, where
William Ransdell and Mary Chilton lived. William of Mercer was married no later
than 1760-61, since his son Wharton was born in 1763, according to a family
Bible, and Wharton had a brother William who appeared in the Orange Co.
tithables before Wharton did. (For these Bible records, see NSDAR Magazine,
Feb. 1981, p. 109.) If William of Mercer was married in the early 1760s, while
all the recorded marriages of children of William of Fauquier took place in the
late 1780s and 1790s, there was certainly a large gap between the marriage of
William of Mercer (m. Ann Petty) and those that some researchers have wanted to
make his siblings in Fauquier Co. From these dates, one would conclude that
William of Orange and Mercer was nearer to being a contemporary of William of
Fauquier and Mary Chilton rather than their son. All dealings of William of
Mercer have been found to be with the other Orange Co. Ransdells and not with
those of Fauquier. This argues that William of Mercer was the son of John
Ransdell (son of Edward who died in 1724 in Westmoreland Co.) of Orange Co.
One finds that the Fauquier Co. Ransdells settled in fairly great number in the
Shelby Co.-Henry Co. area of Kentucky as well as in Owen, Franklin, Fayette and
Scott, while the Orange Co. group settled in Mercer Co., Ky. I am not well
informed about any except the Mercer group, which includes, though, Foxall
Ransdell, son of William of Mercer Co., who moved to the Shelby-Henry area.
See here below some of my notes on this family. I am not immune to mistakes
either. I would be very grateful to have any pointed out to me that can be
documented as being erroneous. And if one finds records on the early Ransdells
that can add to our knowledge of them, please let me and all researchers know
about it. I am hoping to write an extensive article on the family sometime.
* * * * *
An Edward Ransdell is mentioned in the records of St. Mary's Co., Md. as
reproduced in Archives of Maryland, vol. 53, p. 631 (1661) and vol. 57 p. 283
(1666). The latter document also mentions a "Mr. Foxall," who could
be from the Westmoreland family referred to later. The land referred to is in
St. Clement's Manor. [These volumes may be available on the Archives of
Maryland web site.]
A PROBABLE son of the above is the Edward Ransdell who appears first in
Westmoreland Co., Va. on 22 Oct. 1696, pp. 82a-83a of Westmoreland Co. Deeds
and Wills Book 2 (p. 33, Westmoreland County, Virginia Deeds and Wills, No. 2,
1691-1699, John Frederick Dorman, Washington, 1965). In this document, Richard
Omohundro of Cople Parish assigns his right to 192½ acres between the
Rappahannock and Nomini Creek adjoining Peirce, Jacob Remey, Nicholas Spencer
"to EDWARD RANSDELL of same, carpenter and cooper." [There are
several records in this county telling of people apprenticed to Edward Ransdell
to learn his trade.] This land had gone through these hands: 28 Jan. 1683/4,
Thomas Collinsworth to William Moxley; 12 Feb. and 12 March, same year,
Collinsworth's wife acknowledges relinquishment of right of dower; 8 Sept.
1696, William Moxley assigns to Richard Omohundro.
EDWARD appears with a wife MARY in a Westmoreland deed of 30 and 31 May 1699
(D&W 2, pp. 186-186a, as transcribed on p. 89, WDWD 2, 1965). Edward
Ransdell of Cople Parish, carpenter, to Jacob Ramy Junr., 30 acres adjoining
Nicholas Spencer, Jacob Remey Senr., Thos. Collinsworth. On 31 May 1699, Mary
Ransdell, wife, relinquishes dower right to this land. He appears with a wife
AMY in a deed of gift to son WHARTON on 24 Jan 1720/1, D&W 7, p. 87 (as
mentioned in Holtzclaw's Thornton article on p. 13, which was cited above) and
without Amy's being mentioned on 26 Feb. 1723, D&W 8, p. 7a (WDWS,
1723-1726, p. 11, 1994), a deed of gift to sons EDWARD and JOHN. Amy, as will
be seen in Edward Ransdell's will, was the widow of Capt. John Kelly. John Kelly
died sometime in 1715. His will, written 7 Oct. 1714 and proved 4 May 1715 is
on p. 208, Richmond Co. Wills and Inventories, 1709-1717, as transcribed on p.
29, Wills of Richmond County, Virginia, 1699-1800, comp. by Robert K. Headley
Jr., publ. Genealogical Publishing Company, Baltimore, 1983. Amy's will,
written 17 Jan. 1729/30, pr. 4 Feb. 1729/30 is transcribed on p. 65 of the same
publication She mentions dau. Mary Moxley; sons John Kelly, Matthew Kelly, and
Alexander Kelly, exr. friend James Wilson. Witn. Anne Wilson, James Williams,
William Jordan. It is obvious from the date of death of John Kelly and the
absence of Ransdell children in Amy's will that she had no children by Edward
In 1706 Edward Ransdell received a grant of 141 acres in Westmoreland Co.
adjoining land formerly that of Col. William Pearce deceased & Nicholas
Spencer Esq., deceased and James Burns. It was on Rappahannock Creek, a branch
of Nomini. The warrant was dated 29 June 1706 and the survey was made by Thomas
Thompson on 22 Nov. 1706. This is recorded in Northern Neck Grants, 1690-1784,
Book 3, p. 138, as transcribed on p. 34 by Gertrude E. Gray and published in
1988 by the Genealogical Publishing Co. of Baltimore under the title Virginia
Northern Neck Land Grants, 1694-1742. Page 42 of this publication shows a grant
to John Garner of Westmoreland in Book 3, p. 239. This tract of 390 acres
adjoins that of Edward Ransdell.
The first wife of Edward Ransdell MAY HAVE BEEN Mary Gorham, daughter of Miles
and Susannah Gorham. Mary was the ward of Henry and Elizabeth Wharton, and it
is possible that she wished to honor them by naming a child after them. The
possible identity of Edward's wife is explained in the Holtzclaw Thornton
article cited earlier. Dr. Holtzclaw for the most part gives complete
documentation of his facts in this article. As far as the Ransdells are
concerned, he concentrates on those who moved from Westmoreland Co. to Orange
Co., Va. because of their close ties with the Thorntons. Those who want to get
a few more details on the Ransdells, as well as a brief mention of ties with
Sanfords, should read this article. Most of the Ransdell information is on
pages 12 to 16. Hereafter references to this article will appear as Holtzclaw,
plus the page number
Edward Ransdell died sometime in 1724, since his will was written on 1 May 1724
and probate took place on 24 June 1724, D&W 8, pp. 23a-24 (WDWS, 1723-1726,
pp. 38-40, 1994). To sons WHARTON, EDWARD; and JOHN, personal property; to wife
AMY and her children by Capt. John Kelly, personal property and whatever estate
he had by virtue of his marriage to her; sons Edward and John to be under
guardianship of Wharton until they reach age of 21; to Elizabeth Jeffries, a
cow; to daughter-in-law [= step daughter] Mary Kelly, a heifer; to Nicholas
Stephens, clothing; to slave Will, a box; to daughters ELIZABETH TALBOT and
MILESENT LONGWORTH, residue of estate; and to William Longworth, my best suit
of clothes. Exr. son Wharton Ransdell. Witn. Christopher Marmaduke, W. Stuman,
Deborah Marmaduke. Will proved 24 June 1724, recorded 6 May 1724.
Abstract of will of AMY RANSDELL, wr. 17 Jan. 1729/30, pr. 4 Feb. 1729/30, on
p. 65 in Wills of Richmond County, Virginia, 1699-1800, comp. by Robert K.
Headley Jr., publ. Genealogical Publishing Company, Baltimore, 1983. To dau.
Mary Moxley; sons John Kelly, Matthew Kelly, and Alexander Kelly, exr. friend
James Wilson. Witn. Anne Wilson, James Williams, William Jordan.
***Richmond Co., Va. Deed Book 8, p. 516. Bond. We Matthew Kelley, Alexander
Kelley, and Edward Eidson of Richmond Co. bind ourselves to the justices of the
peace of Richmond County in the sum of £100 this Feb 4, 1729, to insure that
Matthew and Alexander Kelley, Administrators of the will and of all the goods,
chattels, and credits of AMY RANSDELL deced, make an inventory of the goods,
chattels, and credits of the deceased. Signed Matthew Kelley, Alexander Kelley,
Eidson. Rec. Feb. 4, 1728 (1729?).
D&W 5, pp. 513-15, (p. 104, WDWD, No. 5, 1712-1716, Washington, 1989. Will of
Thomas Thompson, wr. 17 Jan. 1715/16, pr. 28 March 1716. Friend EDWARD RANSDELL
receives legacy of brass bound gunn that formerly belonged to Capt. Wm.
Westmoreland Co. Order Book 1698-1705, pp. 181-181a (p. 62, WOBD 1698-1705,
Part 3, 1701-3, 1978). Court held 30 December 1702. EDWARD RANSDALE by his
petition setting forth that hee had maintained and kept Peter Niccolls, an
infant, son of Peter Niccolls late of this County, planter, the space of five
yeares or thereabouts, upon consideration that Niccolls the father alwayes
promised to bind his son apprentice to him untill hee should attaine to the age
of twenty one years, which Niccolls being runaway and neither bound his son
apprentice nor made the complainant the least satisfaction for his charge in
bringing upp and nourishing the child dureing the space, humbly moveing the
Court the infant might bee bound apprentice to him, Peter Niccolls the son
being now adjudged eleven years of age is bound apprentice to Edward Ransdale,
with him to continue and abide untill he arrive to the age of one and twenty
years, his master's commands lawful and just at all tymes to perform and doe,
and in every thing justly and uprightly to behave himself to his master dureing
the whole term. Edward Ransdale doth agree to teach or cause to bee taught his
apprentice as soon as may be to read the English tongue as also after the best
meanes hee can to teach him the art and mystery of a carpenter or cooper or
both, and in the mean tyme to provide for his apprentice meat, drink, washing,
lodgeing and apparell meet and convenient for such an apprentice.
Edward Ransdale produced in Court a
certain indenture of apprenticeshipp made between Abraham Ethell and Ransdale
bearing date 7 December 1700 which Ethell acknowledged and that hee would serve
Ransdale according to the tenure of the same.
D&W 3, pp. 116-17, Dec. 1700 (p. 33, WDWD 3, 1967). Abraham Ethell to
EDWARD RANSDALE. Ethell doth agree to bind himself apprentice to Ransdale for
six years to learn the perfect trades and occupation of carpenter, cooper and
joyner as far forth as Ransdale can instruct. He will not intermarry nor
concern himself with any woman during the time of his apprenticship and keep
his master's secrets and serve him faithfully and help yearly to make corn as
far forth as one man's share may contain.
Ransdale doth covenant to find him
with all the conveniences, as good decent apparel, good diet, sweet and warm
lodging, and to furnish him with a set of tools either cooper's or carpenter's
which the boy think fit
WOB 1698-1705, p. 36 (p. 49, WOBD, 1698-1705, Part 1, 1978), 31 May 1699.
EDWARD RANSDELL acknowledges deed of his land to Jacob Ramy Jr. MARY, wife of
RANSDELL relinquishes dower rights.
WOB, 1698-1705, p. 88a (p. 28, WOBD, 1698-1705, Part 2, 1978), 27 June 1700.
EDWARD RANSDELL is security in order to arrest Peter Evans.
WOB, 1698-1705, p. 101a (p. 45, WDWD, 1698-1705, Part 2, 1978), 29 Jan. 1700/1.
Col. William Peirce sells land to EDWARD RANSDELL and Griffin Humphreys. His
wife Sarah Peirce relinquishes dower through attorney John Sturman.
***WOB, 1698-1705, p. 263a (p. 81, WDWD, 1698-1705, Part 4, DATE), 31 May 1705.
EDWARD RANSDELL is on grand jury.
D&W 3, p. 89 (p. 24, WDWD 3, 1701-1707, 1967) 17 July 1702. Among surveyors
in land dispute between Spence and Higgins was EDWARD RANSDALE.
D&W 3, pp. 122-23 (pp. 34-35, WDWD 3, 1701-1707) 8 Sept. 1702. EDWARDS
RANSDEN[?] was among those indebted to the estate of Wm. Peirce.
D&W 3, p. 165 (p. 47, WDWD 3, 1701-1707) 6 July 1703. Recording of
additional inventory of John Scott taken 30 June 1703. EDWARD RANSDALE among
those paying in tobacco.
D&W 3, pp. 249-50 (p. 66, WDWD 3, 1701-1707) 18 June 1704. EDWARD RANSDALE
one of the jurors in a trespass suit by John Chilton against Luke Thornton for
trespass. Found for plaintiff.
D&W 3, pp. 275-76 (p. 72, WDWD 3, 1701-1701) 26 July 1704. Account of
estate of Thomas Atwell includes payment to EDWARD RANSDELL.
D&W 8, p. 7 (WDWS, 1723-26, p. 11, 1994), 26 Feb. 1723. Know all men by
these presents I EDWARD RANSDELL of Cople Parish in County of Westmoreland for divers
good causes & consideracons me moving and namely for the natural love &
affecon which I bear unto my two Sons, EDWARD RANSDELL and JOHN RANSDELL and of
the fatherly care which I have of their preferment & advancement after my
death, by these presents do give & confirm unto my sd. Son Edward Ransdell
my Negro man slave called Will: And to my said Son, Jno: Ransdell my Negro man
slave called Tom: To have and to hold the sd. two Negroes unto the said Edward
& John & to the heires male of their bodies lawfully begotten and for
want of such heirs to the Survivor of them two dureing his natural life and
after his decease unto my Grandson EDWARD RANSDELL, Son of WHARTON RANSDELL,
his heirs forever. In witness whereof I have herunto set my hand and seale the Twenty
Six day of Febry. Anno Dom 1723.
Sealed & Delivered inpresence of
Pope Edward
Tho: Sanford
Westmoreland ss. Att a Court held for the sd. County the 26th day of Febry:
1723 Edward Ransdell personally acknowledged this Deed of Guift from him to his
Sons, Edward & John, to be his proper act & deed which at their
instance was admitted to record and Entered thereon the tenth day of March 1723
` Test
Tho: Sorrell, Cl
Westmoreland Co., Va. Deeds and Wills 13, pp. 143-44. Will of WHARTON RANSDELL,
wr. 10 June 1755, pr. 25 Apr. 1758. To be buried by father; to son EDWARD, land
"where I now live" and land purchased from William Berkeley, slaves,
residue of Stafford Co. land (bought from Willoughby Newton) previously given
to dau. Sarah; dau. SARAH ELLIOTT PIERCE, 20 shillings (has already received
her portion); son WHARTON, a negro and my clothes; son WILLIAM, land on Cobbler
Mountain, Prince William Co.and slaves; wife Sarah, personal estate. Exrs. wife
and sons. Witn. Richard Parker, Thomas Sanford, William Bruce. [The Prince
William Co. land was in present-day Fauquier Co., which had not yet been formed
out of Prince William when Wharton wrote his will.]
Westmoreland Co. Deeds and Wills 9, p. 33, (transcribed by Ruth and Sam
Sparacio on p. 106 of Deed and Will Abstracts of Westmoreland Co., Va.,
1736-1740, published 1995). Will of Sarah Monroe, wr. 26 July 1739, pr. 27 Nov.
1739. Includes legacies to five grandchildren: Elizabeth Sturman, Sarah
Sturman, Martha Sturman, THOMAS RANSDELL, SARAH ELLIOTT RANSDELL. This proves
which children of Wharton Ransdell are by his second marriage.
Immediately before this on pp. 32a and 33 is the 1739 will of John Footman, who
leaves "my Friend WHORTON RANSDELL, my Cane."
On pp. 72-74 of the same publication of Westmoreland transcriptions, but from
D&W 8, pp. 4a-6a (WDWS. 1736-40, pp. 72-74, 1995) is a deed dated 29 Jan.
1738 from Richard Moxley to EDWARD RANSDELL for 100 acres adjoining Nicholas
Minor and others. [Without knowing the date of death of the Edward who was the
son of the Edward that died in 1724, one cannot be certain whether this is the
son of Edward, d. 1724, or the son of Wharton.]
D&W 10, pp. 135-39 (pp. 15-16, WDWS, 1744-1747, 1995). On 28 May 1745,
EDWARD RANSDELL and WHARTON RANSDELL are referred to as Gent., a sign of higher
social standing or better than average financial circumstances. (One wonders if
money came into the family from their mother Ursula Presley.) Edward and
Wharton are to examine Grace, wife of Richard Lee, to confirm that she
willingly relinquished her dower rights in the sale of some of her husband's
property to Thomas Lee.
D&W S, pp. 33-34, (pp. 100-101, WDWS, 1747-1748, 1996). On 24 Oct. 1748 is
recorded a deed from Thomas Cockerell to EDWARD RANSDELL for £35, tract of land
in Nomony [Nomini] Forest, adjoining Ransdell's land and that of Richard
Sandford and John Sandford.
In the same county record on p. 110 of the same publication is the 1740 will of
William Sanford, which was witn. by George Sanford and WHARTON RANSDELL
(probate 1749).
D&W S, pp. 137-138, (pp. 107-108, WDWS, 1749-1751,1996). Deed of "3d
day of June in the twenty third year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George
the Second by the grace of God of Great Britain France & Ireland, King,
Defender of the faith, &c, And in the year of our Lord one thousand seven
hundred and fifty one" Augustine Washington and wife Ann and William Booth
and wife Elizabeth to Edward Sanford of Cople Parish, a tract adjoining Thomas
Sandford, Richard Sandford, EDWARD RANSDELL, William Minor, Richard Lee.
Witnesses Larrance Butler, Foxhall Sturman, JOSEPH PEIRCE
[Comment by Robert P. Moore: I am inclined to think that the Edward Ransdell in
the above documents is the one who died in 1773 and who is probably the son of
Wharton. Wharton's other sons William and Wharton eventually went further north
to Stafford, Prince William, and Fauquier. Wharton's son Thomas probably died
young after 1739 (date of grandmother's will) and before 1755, since neither
his father nor his mother mentioned him in their wills.]
D&W 8, p. 88, 30 Aug. 1727 (WDWS, 1726-1729, pp. 44-45, 1994). Know all men
by these presents that I URSULA RANSDELL do by these presents nominate and
appoint George Turbervile, Gent., my true and lawfull Attorney to acknowledge
the above Deed in the County of Westmorld., and do hereby ratifye and confirm
such his act in my behalfe to be good & effectual in Law. Witness my hand
this Thirtieth day of August 1727.
Sealed & Delivered in presence
Spence Ursula
(Memorandum. This Power was wrote
beneath the Deed therein menconed.)
Westmoreld. ss. At a Court held for
the sd. County the 30th day of August 1727 This Power of Attorney from Ursula
Ransdell to George Turbervile, Gent., was duely proved by the Oaths of the
witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded
G. Turbervile, C.C.W.
the Sixth day of September
1727 pr.
(On margin: Ransdell & Ux.[wife]
Deed of Negro's to Sturman & Paine)
This indenture made this Thirtieth
day of August in the Fourteenth year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George
by the grace of God of Great Brittain France and Ireland, King, Defender of the
faith &c., And in the year of our Lord Christ, one thousand seven hundred
twenty and seven, Between WHARTON RANSDELL and URSULA his Wife of Cople Parish
and County of Westmoreland of one part and William Sturman and John Paine of
the Parish and County aforesaid of other part: Witnesseth that Wharton Ransdell
and Ursula his Wife as well in consideration of the sum of five shillings
lawfull money to them in hand payed by Wm: Sturman and John Paine, the receipt
whereof they do hereby acknowledge, have and by these presents do bargain and
sell unto Wm: Sturman and John Paine and their heirs all the hereinafter
mentioned several Negro slaves which are called known and distinguished by the
several names following (vizt.) Nat, Moll, Matthew & Frank, the said
Matthew and Frank being Children born of the body of sd. Moll; Together with all
their increase and all the right title and demand which Wharton Ransdell and
Ursula his Wife or either of them now have or ought to have in the sd. Negroes;
To have and to hold the several Negroes with all their increase unto Wm:
Sturman and John Paine and their heires for the uses, intents and purposes
hereafter in these presents set down, that is to say, that the Negroes called
by the several names abovesaid shall be and remain to and for the proper use
benefit and behoofe of Wharton Ransdell and Ursula his Wife dureing their
natural lives and the longest liver of them, and after their decease in the
proper use benefit and advantage of ELIZABETH RANSDELL, EDWD. RANSDELL, WHARTON
RANSDELL, and WM: RANSDELL being the Children of the said Wharton and Ursula as
said Wharton Ransdell shall by Deed duely executed in his life time or by his
Last Will and Testament direct and appoint, In Witness whereof the partys to
these presents have hereunto inter changeably set their hands and seales the
day & year above written
Sealed and Delivered in the presence of
Spence Wharton
Peirce Ursula
Westmoreld. ss. At a Court held for the sd. County the 30th day of August 1727
Wharton Ransdell came into Court and personally acknowledged this Deed for
conveyance of Negroes therein menconed by him and his Wife passed to William
Sturman and John Paine to be his proper act and deed, also George Turberville,
Gen., by vertue of a Power of Attorney duely proved from Ursula, Wife of the
said Wharton Ransdell, acknowledged this Deed to be her proper act and deed;
And the said Deed was likewise proved by the Oaths of Patrick Spence and William
Peirce, the witnesses thereto, all which at the instance of the said Wharton
Ransdell are admitted to Record
Test G.
Turberville C.C.W.
Recorded the Sixth day of September
1727 pr. G.T., C.C.W.
[This is the only mention so far found of ELIZABETH RANSDELL, daughter of
Wharton and Ursula. She is not mentioned in her father's will written in 1755.]
D&W 8, pp. 55-57, (WDWS, 1726-1729, pp. 94-95, 1995), 18 and 19 March 1728,
deeds of lease and release by William Berkley of Stafford Co. through attorney
Capt. George Turberville of Westmoreland to WHARTON RANSDELL of Cople Parish,
Westmoreland Co. For seven thousand pounds of tobacco and 40 shillings current money,
100 acres in Westmoreland Co. being part of a patent granted to Mr. John Lord
and Mr. W.M. Horton in 1667 and which later became the right and inheritance of
Wm. Lord, gent., son of Mr. John Lord and Henry Neale his grandson, who
conveyed it to Berkley in 1722. Adjoins John Cockerill, Richard Sanford, Col.
Ashton, Hinson, Nicholas Minor, Patrick Spence, Robert Sanford. Witn. Thomas
Sturman, Thomas Chilton.
See p. 142, Augusta B. Fothergill, Wills of Westmoreland County, Virginia,
1654-1800, Appeals Press, 1925 (henceforth referred to as Fothergill, Wills.),
will of ROBERT VAULX, wr. 8 Aug. 1754, pr. 26 March 1755, as abstracted: Friend
John Elliott and his two sons, land in Prince ____ County; daus. Milly and
Molly Vaulx, land in Brewtons Neck: daus. Katy and Kenner, land in Nominy;
daus. Betty and Sally, land purchased of John Elliott; Sally to live with Mrs.
Ann Washington; Molly to live with Mrs. RANSDALL; dau. Milly to live with SARAH
PEARCE; dau. Elizabeth to stay with my wife until she is 16 years of age; daus.
by a former wife; children by my present wife; son in law Lawrence Washington a
silver ladle and suit of mourning; Brereton Kenner, clothing; William Bernard,
law books; Thomas Shadrack. [Note by Robert P. Moore: Given the name Elliott
found in this will, the Mrs. Ransdell mentioned here is probably the former
Sarah (Elliott) Sturman, second wife of Wharton Ransdell and Sarah Pearce is
probably Sarah Elliott Ransdell Peirce. [ Note the associations of the Vaulx
family with the Foxalls, Elliotts, Sturmans as seen in "Sturman Family
Notes," William and Mary Quarterly, vols. 16 and 17, as referenced above
under Edward Ransdell m. Elizabeth Sturman in the outline of Edward Ransdell's
descendants and in "Foxall-Vaulx-Elliott," by the same authors, on
pp. 61-67, Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, vol. 44 (1936). This
article says that the Foxalls came from Birmingham, Warwickshire, Eng. and that
the Vaulx family were Quakers from co. Cumberland. Robert Vaulx's mother was
Mary Foxall. Mrs. Sarah Elliott Sturman Ransdell's mother was Sarah Foxall]
Fothergill. Wills, p. 187: Will of EDWARD RANSDELL, wr. 19 June 1773, pr. 30
Nov. 1773. Land in fee to wife ELIZABETH; dau. ELIZABETH wife of JAMES
DAVENPORT, 1 Negro woman in trust for her use; Mr. Richard Parker £5 for
services rendered; nephew PRESLEY son of brother WHARTON RANSDELL 1 ring;
nephew EDWARD son of brother WILLIAM a gold ring. [The mention of these nephews
identifies Edward Ransdell as the son of Wharton and Ursula.]
***p. 64, A Digest of Family Relationships, Vol. I
(17120-1759, Ruth and Sam Sparacio, Antient Press, McLean, Va., 1990, from
Prince William Co. Deed Book 1748-1749, pp. 186-87, 5 Apr. 1749, WHARTON
RANSDELL for natural love and affection for sons WHARTON RANSDELL and WILLIAM
RANSDELL. [This probably was in the part of Prince William that became
CR.DB-01/88, p. 44, Culpeper Co., Va. Deed Book F, p. 264. Received the 13th
Nov. 1771 Four pounds current money being in full all Debts dues and demands
received per me, WHARTON RANSDELL. At Court continued and held for County of
Culpeper 20th November 1771 a Recit from Wharton Ransdell to Richard Young was
acknowledged by the said Wharton and ordered to be recorded.
The following two wills are abstracted on pp. 74 and 170 respectively of
Abstracts of Fauquier County, Virginia Wills, Inventories, and Accounts,
1759-1800 by John K. Gott, no place or publisher listed, 1972.
Fauquier Co. Will Book 1, pp. 289-90, wr. 3 July 1776, pr. 29 Oct. 1771. Will
of WILLIAM RANSDELL, SENIOR.
Wife: beloved wife the use of my whole estate during her natural life and after
her death as follows:
Son WHARTON my Mansion house and plantation thereunto belonging - one-third of
my whole Tract of Land;
Sons THOMAS and WILLIAM - the remaining part of my Tract of land - my desire
that my MILL be kept for the use of my plantation and my three sons upon the
Tract of Land:
. . . if my son Wharton should die
that then the Land and plantation devised to him shall devolve unto my son
Thomas & the land devised unto him be equally divided between my two sons
. . . if either of my two sons Thomas
or William die the Land devised to them be equally divided between my two sons
Edward and Chilton Ransdell.
. . . all my Negroes, Stock,
Household furniture to be equally divided between all my Children after the
death of my wife according to Justice and Equity.
Exrs. loving sons Wharton, Thomas and
Witn. Benj'n. Ashby, John Marshall,
Ju., John Ritchie
Fauquier Co. Will Book 2, pp. 93-94, wr. 27 Jan. 1786, pr. 26 June 1786. Will
of WHARTON RANSDELL.
Children WILLIAM RANSDELL, ANN MOREHEAD, MARGARET RANSDELL, SARAH RANSDELL to
share equally in one-half of the proceeds from the sale of a tract purchased of
Archibald Allen and two tracts more I purchased of John Debutts, 1000 acres;
Son THOMAS to receive the other half of the proceeds arising from sale of above
lands, reserving £20 currant money for the education of my GRANDSON CHARLES
MOREHEAD RANSDELL and WHARTON RANSDELL
Son-in-law Cadwallader Slaughter, Negroes; Son EDWARD, Negro; Son JOHN Negroes;
Son William, Negroes, tools, featherbed and furniture; Dau. Ann Morehead,
Negroes; Dau. Margaret, Negroes; Son Thomas, Negroes, wearing apparel, big
still, silver watch, one best bed and furniture; Dau. Sarah, Negroes, bed and
furniture; Son Wharton, Negro, cow and calf, bed and furniture, tools, table;
Grandsons Charles Morehead Ransdell, Wharton Ransdell, tract of land in
Jefferson County that I purchased of Cadwallader Slaughter, 500 acres. [This is
Jefferson Co., Ky., since Kentucky was still a part of Virginia in 1786.] There
are some Morehead deeds in early Nelson Co., Ky., formed from Jefferson Co. in
1785. In June 1806, two of Turner Morehead's daughters married Charles M. and
Whorton Ransdell in Nelson Co. By their first names, the brides could be
Ransdell descendants, but there are no deeds by anyone bearing the name
Ransdell in Nelson Co.
If either my sons William Ransdell or
Thomas Ransdell or my Dau. Sarah Ransdell should Die without lawful issue their
Estate to be equally divided between the surviving Heirs of William, Thomas,
Anne Morehead and Margaret Ransdell.
Exrs. Charles Chilton, Elias Edmonds, THOMAS RANSDELL SR., WILLIAM RANSDELL
Witn. NATHANIEL GRAY, John Green Jr., Dan'l. Gray, WHARTON RANSDELL, Enoch K.
***SPARACIO, Richmond Co., Va. Account Book, Part 1, p. 209. Edward Barrow
Deceas'd to Nicholas Minor Senr. Deceased . . .
To Ballance due to Mr. Barrows Orphans; one-third ordered the Widow Minor Exx.
to Mr. Nicho. Minor Senr. to pay WHORTON RANSDALE which she agrees thereto. . .
[Edward Barrow was married to Elizabeth Minor by whom he had two orphans
mentioned in this document. One of them was Margaret Barrow who m. Wharton
Peggy Shomo Joyner, Abstracts of Virginia's Northern Neck Warrants and Surveys,
vol. III, self-published, Portsmouth, Va., 1986.
p. 142, Fauquier Co. Capt. WHARTON RANSDELL, 16 Nov. 1775 (warrant), 15 Apr.
1776 (survey); 500 acres on South Run Mt., adj. John Peyton, John Thomas,
Presley Cockes/Cox, land "belonging to Revd. Laurence Debutts (but now to
the said Ransdell, Wm. Hunton, Robert Saunders, etc.)" Chain carriers
Joseph Bailey & WILLIAM RANSDELL. Surveyor John Moffett.
John K. Gott, comp., Fauquier County, Virginia Deeds, 1759-1778, Heritage
Books, Inc., Bowie, Md., 1988.
p. 5 (Deed Book 1, pp. 62-65), 23-24 March 1760. WILLIAM RANSDALE and MARY, his
wife to Robert Ashby, £70, 200 acres, being part of a larger tract purchased by
WHARTON RANSDALE from the Exors. of Mr. Burgess of Lancaster Co., dec'd. Rec.
27 March 1760. [This land was probably purchased before Fauquier Co. was formed
out of Prince William.]
p. 17 (Deed Book 1, pp. 280-87), 16-17 Sept. 1761. Augustine Washington, EDWARD
RANSDELL and William Bernard of Westmoreland Co., Gen., surviving trustees of
Robert Vaulx to Thomas Chilton, Gent., same Vaulx purchased of Laurence
Debutts, late of the Province of Maryland, Clerk [=minister], decd., 11-12 June
1745. Proved by the oaths of Foxhall Sturman, Thos. Chilton Jr., EDWARD
p. 33 (Deed Book 2, pp. 7-9), 28 July 1763. Exchange of land on Cedar Run
between Richard Hampton and Charles Morehead, by Baileys rolling road [road on
which hogsheads of tobacco were rolled to market]. Witn. Joseph Blackwell, WM.
p. 50 (Deed Book 2, pp. 253-58), 8-9 Apr. 1765. John Ballendine of Fairfax Co.
to WHARTON RANSDELL, £84, 1 shilling, 4 pence, 194 acres in Fauquier and Prince
William, adj. said RANSDELL, Mr. Scott, Archibald Allan, Debutts, Mill run.
Witn. James Scott Jr., WM. RANSDELL, Gustavus Scott, John Chilton, John Bell.
"Being in Fauquier (formerly Prince William) being part of a patent
granted to the Rev'd. Lawrence Debutts of the province of Maryland for 2,864
acres on 18 Oct. 1727. And pp. 62-63 (Deed Book 2, pp. 522-530) 2-3 August
1765, seems to be the same tract and price, with the exception that this time
there is mention of examination of wife Mary Ballendine regarding her voluntary
relinquishment of dower rights.
p. 78 (Deed Book 3, pp. 73-83), 23-25 July 1767, concerning a deed to Zephaniah
Turner "of Charles Co., Md., Gent.," was witnessed by WHARTON
RANSDELL. [This Turner family, some of whom settled in Fauquier Co., Va., sent
representatives of the Fauquier Co. branch to Henry Co., Ky., as did some of
the family of this Wharton Ransdell.]
p. 117 (Deed Book 4, pp. 215-16), 24 June 1771. WHARTON RANSDALL and wife
MARGARET to John Churchill, Gent., £100, parcel on both sides of Cedar Run for
a mill seat, 4 acres and 4 more acres which he overflowed by means of building
a mill. [This is probably the last mention of Wharton's wife Margaret Barrow.]
p. 177 (Deed Book 6, pp. 134-35), 26 Dec. 1775 [among Dec. 1774 deeds].
Apprentice Bond. Chandler Fowke of Hamilton Parish and WHARTON RANSDALL of
Leeds Parish, HOUSE CARPENTER AND JOINER . . . Fowke by his mother's consent
& approbation of the Court binds himself for 5 years an apprentice to
Ransdall . . . Fowke agrees not to frequent tipling houses nor taverns nor play
at cards Dice or any unlawful game. [This shows that Wharton has the same trade
as his grandfather Edward Ransdell.]
p. 208 (Deed Book 6, pp. 547-49), 26 Sept. 1778. WHARTON RANSDELL to Robert
Sanders, £10, 113 acres on north side of Pon Mt., adj. Wm. Hunton and said
Sanders, Presley Cox, Peyton, land sold to Jonathan Newhouse.
p. 208 (Deed Book 6, pp. 549-50), 28 Sept. 1778. WHARTON RANSDELL to Joseph
Smith of Prince William Co., £137, 274 acres, adjoining Presley Cox, Robert
Sanders, John Thomas, Peyton.
John K. Gott, comp., Fauquier County, Virginia Deeds, 1778-1785, Heritage
Books, Inc., Bowie, Md., 1993.
p. 1 (Deed Book 7, pp.3-4), 26 Sept. 1778. WHARTON RANSDELL to Jonathan
Newhouse, £50, 100 acres, part of a tract taken up by Ransdell in 1777 on South
side of Pon[d?] Mountain, binding on Wm. Hunton Robert Sanders, Peytons and W.
Ransdell's old line.
p. 1 (Deed Book 7, pp.4-6) 26 Sept. 1778. WHARTON RANSDELL to William Hunton,
£6, 10 shillings, 13 acres, part of above tract, beginning at South Run,
Hunton's line to south end of Pon Mt., Ransdell's old line.
p. 5 (Deed Book 7, pp. 53-55), 22 Feb. 1779. JOHN RANSDELL is witn. to deed
from John Cantwell and Sarah to Wm. Skinker of Prince Wm. Co.
pp. 22-23 (Deed Book 7, pp. 236-39), 21 Nov. 1779. WHARTON RANSDELL SR. to
Obediah Pettit, £145, 145 acres, beginning where John Churchill's line crosses
Button's Branch . . . down to Cedar Run . . . to the line of John Churchill's
lott on which his mill stands . . James Bell's corner, part of a larger tract
belonging to said Ransdell, the remaining part of which is now in possession of
his son JOHN RANSDELL. Witn. Wm. Kenton, Robert Hanson, Benjamin Hamrick.
p. 56 (Deed Book 7, pp. 509-12) 30 Nov. 1782. WHARTON RANSDELL JR. son &
heir-at-law of WILLIAM RANSDELL, late of Fauquier Co., dec'd. & MARY
RANSDELL, widow & relict of said William, to Thomas Digges, Gent., £428,
428 acres, bounded by lands of Obadiah Pettit, JOHN RANSDELL, John Stewart, Richard
Chichester, the lands in poss. of Robert Layton, William Edmonds & John
Churchhill, is part of the land which was purchased by WHARTON RANSDELL, father
of the said William Ransdell & by him devised to the said Wm. and whereon
said Digges now lives. Witn. Charles Chilton, John Metcalfe, William Stewart,
John Kennedy.
[This deed is a good example of the usage of the time when "Jr." did
not necessarily mean son of somebody with the same first name, but rather the
younger of two people in the area with identical names. It also proves what
some seem never to realize, and that is that deeds are an extremely useful
source of genealogical information. We have here a mention of Wharton who m.
Ursula Presley, his son Wm. who m. Mary Chilton (and of Mary herself) and of
Wm. and Mary's son, here called Wharton Jr. There is not, however, any explicit
identification of John Ransdell. The Dorman article in the Virginia Genealogist
on the Chilton family above indicates, by mentioning no such person, that
William and Mary did not have a son John, so we might SPECULATE that this John
is the son of William's brother Wharton. However, see below Deed Book 8, pp.
p. 66 (Deed Book 8, pp. 53-57), 27 Oct. 1783. THOMAS RANSDELL to Aquilla Dyson,
£200, tract adj. lands of the Estate of Thomas Lord Fairfax, George Ash,
WHARTON RANSDELL, and William Moore, corner to George Ash, 268 acres, the
quitrents hereafter to grow due and payable to the Commonwealth of Virginia.
[Some history given here. Now that the Revolution was over, the lands in the
Northern Neck counties were no longer the property of Lord Fairfax and he could
no longer collect the rents on them, which now went to the state.]
p. 76 (Deed Book 8, pp. 138-40), 26 July 1784. WHARTON RANSDALL, Gent., to
Thomas Digges, Gent., £320, 300 acres, the land whereon JOHN RANSDALL (son of
the said WILLIAM) now lives . . adj. Thomas Digges, John Stewart, James
Stewart, Obadiah Pettit and John Churchill.
[This deed is either helpful or confusing. The use of "said" in such
documents means "aforementioned," but in the abstract, at least, no
William has been previously mentioned. This is why one wants to see original
documents. Was William mentioned in the original? And which Wharton is this? It
could be the son of William, called Wharton Jr. in the deed above of 1782. This
seems especially likely, because the owners of the lands adjoining include
Pettit and Stewart, as well as Digges, as in the deed in Book 7, pp. 509-12.
Did the whole text of the deed again mention William, the father of Wharton
Jr.? If so, then this tells us that William DID INDEED have a son John who is
not listed in the Dorman article above on the Chiltons. Could this be the
solution to the mystery of the identity of the John Ransdell who married Lucy
Chilton? And note another (or the same?) John to follow in Stafford Co. Could
that be the reason there is no John in the 1787 census of Fauquier Co. cited
John Vogt and T. William Kethley Jr., comp., Stafford Co., Virginia Tithables,
Iberian Publishing Co., Athens, Ga., 1990.
p. 379, 1788 list of Wm. Alexander, May 9, JOHN RANSDELL
pp. 409-10, same 1788 list arranged in date order, showing others listed on
same date as JOHN RANSDELL
p. 499, 1790 list of Alexander, May 12, JOHN RANSDAL
p. 529, same 1790 list in date order, showing JOHN RANSDAL and others of same
date (only Archibal Rowley)
Netti Schreiner-Yantis and Florene Speakman Love, The Personal Property Tax
Lists for the Year 1787 for Fauquier County, Virginia, Genealogical Books in
Print, Springfield, Va., 1987.
p. 273, Thomas Ransdell Sr.
p. 298, Mary Ransdell, Wharton Ransdell (responsibility of Mary), William
Ransdell, Thomas Ransdell (responsibility of William), Mary Ransdell. Mary is
listed twice and in neither case is a tithable.
p. 302, Thomas Ransdell Sr. listed on March 21
p. 312, Mary and Wharton Ransdell listed on Apr. 16; Thomas and William
Ransdell listed on Apr. 23, as is Turner Morehead; Mary Ransdell listed on Apr.
24, as are Amstd. and Mary Morehead.
S.-Yantis and Love, The 1787 Census of Virginia, Genealogical Books in Print,
Springfield, Va., 1987.:
Orange Co., p.
837 John Sanford Wharton William William
Fauquier Co., pp. 273,
298 Mary Thomas Thos.
Sr. Wharton William
Since the William of Fauquier who m. Mary Chilton was dead by this time, the
William in Fauquier in 1787 must be either their son or Wharton and Margaret's
by that name. (Many have MISTAKENLY made William of Orange Co., Va. and Mercer
Co., Ky. the son of William Ransdell and Mary Chilton of Fauquier Co.) One of
these two cousins named William may have died already. From the index of
Fauquier records compiled by John P. Alcock, it would appear that the William
of Fauquier in 1787 may have died in 1788. Alcock's index does not provide
sufficient information to determine which William this was, but the dates of
birth and marriage of the children of William of Mercer make it extremely
unlikely that he was the son William of either Wharton or William of Fauquier.
[The 1800 tax lists of Mercer Co. (p.
241, "Second Census" of Kentucky, 1800, G. Glen Clift, Genealogical
Publishing Co., Baltimore, 1976) contain these Ransdells: William, Edward, John
Sr., William Sr., Wharton, Zachary. Also in that list is a John Ransdell in
Scott Co., Ky.]
Fauquier County, Virginia Marriage Bonds: 1759-1800 and Marriage Returns
1785-1848, John K. Gott, Heritage Books, Ind., Bowie, 1989
p. 183, Elizabeth
Ransdell Cadwallader
Slaughter 17
Dec. 1762 bondsman Wharton Ransdell
p. 142, Hannah
Ransdell William
Moore 8
Jan. 1779 bondsman Wharton Ransdell
p. 142, Ann
Ransdell Turner
Morehead 14
June 1779 bondsman Wharton Ransdell
p. 164, Wharton
Ransdell Mary
Morehead 16
Jan. 1781 bondsman Turner Morehead
p. 81, Sally
Ransdell Nathaniel
Gray 26
Sept. 1786 bondsman Charles Morehead
p. 164, Thomas Ransdell,
Jr. Mary
Ransdell 8
Nov. 1786 bondsman Thomas Ransdell
p. 35, Mary
Ransdell John
Clarke 5
Jan. 1789 bondsman Armistead Morehead
p. 81, Betsy
Ransdell Nathaniel
Gray 18
March 1789 bondsman Thomas Ransdell
p. 10, Mary
Ransdell William
Ball 7
Sept. 1793 bondsman F. Brooke
As a lead to further research on
these Fauquier Ransdells, see pp. 289-90 of John P. Alcock's Fauquier Families,
1759-1799, subtitled Comprehensive Indexed Abstracts of Tax and Tithable Lists,
Marriage Bonds and Minute, Deed and Will Books, and Other, publ. by Iberian
Publishing Co., Athens, Georgia, 1994.
Ransdell records in Orange Co., Va.
[Since the years covered by transcriptions of Orange Co. records by Ruth and
Sam Sparacio, Antient Press, McLean, Va. do not necessarily keep within the
limits of one single county record book they will be abbreviated as they appear
in their catalogs. Their transcriptions of deed books will be abbreviated OE.DB
plus the inclusive years, while the will book material will appear as OE.DB,
plus inclusive years. Those of John F. Dorman will be OWD and ODD. Sparacio
transcriptions are actually entitled as follows: Will Abstracts of Orange
County, Virginia followed by the inclusive dates in parentheses and Deed
Abstracts of Orange County, Virginia plus dates. Dorman titles, published in
Washington, D.C., read as follows: Orange County, Virginia Will Book plus
number of book and dates and Orange County, Virginia Deed Book plus number(s)
and dates.]
John Ransdell appears on two undated tithable lists in Orange Co. for the
period 1736 to 1739, and he appears on tithable lists for 1753, 1755, and 1758.
(Not all such lists have survived.) These lists are cited on page 14,
Holtzclaw. For these early tithable lists Holtzclaw cites Brockman, Orange Co.
Families, vol. I, pp. 142, 145, 147.
Peggy Shomo Joyner, Abstracts of Virginia's Northern Neck Warrants &
Surveys: Orange & Augusta Counties: With Tithables, Delinquents,
Petitioners, 1730-1754, self-published, Portsmouth, Va., 1985
p. 41, Orange Co. Tithables, 1737, list of Samuel Pound includes JOHN RANDSELL
[sic], 2 tithables, followed by Willm. Pattey, 2 tithables; Thomas Pattey, 2
tithables; and several lines further Thos. Pattey, son, 3 tithables; John
Pattey, 2 tithables. Luke and James Thorntun are a few lines before John
Ransdell. [These are probably the Petty in-laws of William Ransdell.]
p. 42, no date, list of Samuel Pound includes James Thorntun, Thos. pettes
senior, Thos Pette Juner, Willm Pette, Luke Thorntun, JOHN RANDSEL [sic]
p. 47, 1739 list, no attribution, includes Luke Thorntun, JOHN RAMSUL (two
tithables), James Thorntun, Thos. Pettrey Senior, John Pettrey, Thos Pettry.
Orange Co. Order Book 6, p. 512, as cited on p. 14, Holtzclaw. In 1760, John
Ransdell, a poor man, must bind his children out to others. [Since Edward's son
John was born perhaps a little after 1703 and would be somewhere around 57 at
this time, he might not have minor children, so this could be another John,
perhaps his son.]
Orange Co. tithables for various years, including the number of tithables in
the household, according to Holtzclaw:
John Ransdell (probably at least in some cases the son of the John above.)
(1) 1788-92
(2) 1793
Jesse Ransdell
1782-85 (1)
Sanford Ransdell
1787-99[?] (1) 1788-89
(2) 1792-93
(2) 1798-99
Who is the second tithable in his household? He appears first in Mercer Co.,
Ky. records in an 1806 deed.
William Ransdell
(2) 1793
William Ransdell and son William
Jr. 1785-89
William Ransdell and sons Wharton and William Jr. 1788-94 [From this, one
concludes that William Jr. was the eldest son and Wharton the next eldest.]
Wharton Ransdell 1787-94 (1)
The Virginia records below are all from Orange Co., except the one immediately
following, which is from Spotsylvania, from which Orange was formed the next
Spotsylvania Co. as given in Spotsylvania County Records, 1721-1800, p. 140,
ed. William Armstrong Crozier, publ. by Southern Book Co., 1955 and distributed
by Genealogical Book Co., Baltimore.
Deed Book C (page not given in the publication cited), 30 Nov. 1734. Alexander
Spotswood leases 200 acres on the south side of the Rapidan to Luke Thornton.
JOHN RANDELL [sic] is called Thornton's brother-in-law in this deed. This
establishes John as the son of the EDWARD RANSDELL who d. in 1724 in
Westmoreland Co., since we already know that Luke Thornton's wife was a
daughter of Edward.
Will Book 2, pp. 422-24, will of John Petty of St. Thomas Parish, wr. 26 July
1768, pr. 20 Feb. 1770 as abstracted and transcribed by John Frederick Dorman
in Orange County, Virginia Will Book 2, 1744-1778, Washington D.C., 1961, pages
86-87. Hereafter cited as OWD 2.
To my beloved wife REBECCA PETTEY the
land and plantation whereon I now live containing 122 acres during her natural
life or widowhood. Also my Negro fellow Punch and woman Moll, with all my other
estate. After her decease divided amongst my children.
To my eldest son THOMAS PETTEY five
shillings current money to be paid when demanded. My said son have no other
part of my estate.
To my daughters SARAH CORLEY and
TABITHA EDWARDS and my son LUKE PETTY who are now in Carolina the sum of five
shillings each.
To my granddaughter ANN FORD the
feather bed that she lies on with the furniture belonging to it.
To my son in law WILLIAM RANSDELL my
large church Bible.
To my son FRANCIS PETTY one horse to
be the value of 8 pounds.
To my son ABNER PETTY my Negro man
Punch. In case he should die before he arrives to the age of twenty one years,
Punch be sold and the money divided amongst my other children whom I have not
cut off with five shillings.
To my son GEORGE PETTY after his
mother's decease the land and plantation whereon I now live with one Negro
woman Moll. In case George should die before he arrives to the age of twenty
one years, the land to my son JOHN and the Negro woman Moll to be sold to the
highest bidder and the money equally divided betwixt all my children who have
not been cut off with five shillings.
In case my wife Rebecca Pettey should
marry after my decease, she should have no more of my estate than the law
allows her.
The remainder of my estate after the
decease of my wife Rebecca Pettey be sold to the highest bidder and the money
equally divided betwixt my children ABFAIR FORD, John Pettey, ZACHARIAH PETTEY,
ANN RANSDELL, REBECCA BOSTON, SUSANNAH HAWKINS, JEMIMA BOSTON, Francis Pettey,
Abner Pettey and George Pettey.
My beloved wife Rebecca Pettey
executrix and my son Zachariah Pettey and WILLIAM RANSDELL executors.
Witn. Alexr. Waugh jur., Absalom Wood, William Wood.
20 Feb. 1770. Since signing the above
will I have been informed of the death of my eldest son Thomas Pettey.
Therefore to prevent his children from having any part of my estate I give to
my grandson Reuben Pettey son of Thomas Pettey one shilling sterling. John
Witn. Cattey Pettey, Alexr. Waugh jur.
27 Sept. 1770. Presented into Court
by William Ransdale. Proved by Absalom Wood and Catey Pettey. Executor with
Zachary Pettey and Weeden Sleet his securities entered into bond in the sum of
£500 current money.
OWD 2, p. 87, Will Book 2, pp. 425-26, ordered 27 Sept. 1770. Appraisers of
John Petty estate sworn before Francis Moore, Gent. Total valuation £216,
including three slaves valued at £110. Taken by Benjamin Hawkins, George
Procter, Abner Porter. Returned 24 Jan. 1771.
OE.WB-06/85, p. 4, Will Book 3, p. 24, 27 July 1780. WILLIAM RANSDELL, Daniel
Thornton, James Thornton appraise estate of William Gaines.
OE.WB-06/85, p. 6, Will Book 3, p. 32, 23 Aug. 1781. WILLIAM RANSDELL, Francis
Moore, James Banner appraise estate of John Thornton.
OE.WB-06/85, p. 33, Will Book 3, p. 231, 25 July 1791. Inventory sale of estate
of John Petty, decd., WILLIAM RANSDELL, exr. [This is surely not the John Petty
who had died 21 years earlier, for whom Wm. was also exr.] Sales to George
Petty, John Robertson, William Proctor, James Clark Jr., Zachariah Petty for
WM. RANSDELL SR., Lewis Willis.
OE.WB-06/85, p. 33-34, Will Book 3, p. 235, 26 Nov. 1791. WM. RANSDELL submits
account of est. of John Petty.
OE.WB-06/85, p. 40, 3, p. 312, 22 Sept. 1794. WM. RANSDELL, exr., submits
account of est. of John Pilly [Petty?]. Amount of sale, £70, 13 shillings, 2
OE.WB-06/85, p. 37, Will Book 3, 266, 24 Sept 1792, return of appr. of estate
of JESSE RANSDELL by George Petty, James Sleet, Daniel Thornton. Estate
appraised at £9, 6 shillings, 9 pence.
OE.WB-06/85, p. 38, Will Book 3, p. 282, no date. Estate of JESSE RANSDELL to
SANFORD RANSDELL. Value £3, 12 shillings.
In the Orange Co. deeds below some of the land is said to be on the Rapidan
(which today separates Orange from Culpeper) and Rockey Branch. The latter is a
very short stream quite near the line with Culpeper, so this narrows down to a
fairly small area the part of Orange Co. in which the Ransdells lived. It is
close to a place called Raccoon Ford.
OE.DB-02/86, p. 150, Deed Book 16, p. 46, 25 May 1772. Alexander Spotswood and
Elizabeth of Spotsylvania Co. to WILLIAM RANSDELL of Orange. For £57, 4
shillings, 176 acres on the Rapidan, adjoining Luke Thornton, a naked mountain,
Elijah Morton, Col. Francis Moore, Rockey Branch. Witn. Reuben Moore, Francis
Moore Jr., Weeden Sleet, John Grigsby. Rec. Aug. 1772.
OE.DB-02/86, p. 154, Deed Book 16, p. 84, 27 June 1772, recorded 27 May 1773.
WILLIAM RANSDELL and ANN to JOHN RANSDELL, £31, 17 shillings, 98 acres on the
south side of the Rapidan, adjoining Luke Thornton, Reuben Moore, Rockey
Branch, Col. Francis Moore.
OE.DB-02/86, p. 196, Deed Book 16, p. 498, 31 July 1777. George Waugh, Esq.,
gives two-lives lease to SANFORD RANSDAL and to his sister ELISABETH RANSDALE,
near Chestnut Mt. Witn. Daniel Thornton, JOHN RANSDELL. Yearly rent £3, 10
shillings. Plot surveyed in presence of John Ransdal and Daniel Thornton. [This
kind of lease meant that it would continue until the death of whichever of them
died later. A three-lives lease seems to have been more typical and was often
for the lives of a couple and one of their children.]
OE.DB-04/89, p. 90, Deed Book 19, p. 389, 23 Feb. 1790. WHARTON RANSDELL,
Duncan Campbell, Finlason Sleet witn. deed from Joseph and Rebekah Boston to
George Petty. Land adjoins John Lee, John Boston, George Petty. Witn. Finlason
Sleet, Duncan Campbell, Wharton Ransdell.
OE.DB-04/89, p. 59, Deed Book 19, p. 254, 27 Nov. 1787. Alexander and Elizabeth
Spotswood of Spotsylvania Co. to Charles Porter, £90s, 100 acres adj. Alexander
Dawney, Francis Moore, Samuel Clayton survey, Alexander Waugh, Daniel Thornton,
RANSDELL. Witn. William Richards, John Powell, Camp Porter, Nicholas Leathers,
William Herndon Jr. Rec. 23 June 1788. Delivered to PEIRCE SANFORD July 1794.
[Pierce Sanford was the maternal grandfather of Mary Ann Yates, wife of Bluford
Poulter, a grandson of William Ransdell.]
OE.DB-04/89, p. 59, Book 19, p. 258, 23 Nov. 1787. Alexander and Elizabeth
Spotswood of Spotsylvania Co. to Charles Porter, £20, 33 acres, adj. Dawson,
Welch, Lancaster, Hawkins Mill Run. Delivered to PEIRCE SANFORD July 1794.
OE.DB-05/89, p. 42, Deed Book 20, p. 164, 23 July 1792. Francis Moore leases
350 acres for 30 years to his son Reuben Moore, adjoining Left Hand Mountain,
Alexander Waugh, John White, Reuben Gaines, Richard Waugh, William Dean. Witn.
WHARTON RANSDELL, JOHN RANSDELL, GEORGE RANSDELL, Robert Moore. [This is the
only reference found to George Ransdell.]
OE.DB-05/89, p. 36, Deed Book 20, pp. 133-34, 24 Sept. 1792. Daniel Thornton
and Thos. Bryant, exrs. of James Thornton, to SANFORD RANSDELL. For £168, ten
shillings, no acreage mentioned, land which James Thonrton died possessed of,
adjoining Waugh, Daniel Thornton, Porter, Henry Brown.
OE.DB-05/89, p. 36, Deed Book 20, p. 135, 24 Sept. 1792. SANFORD RANSDELL to
Thomas Bryant, £168, ten shillings, 195 acres, same price and description as
just above.
[Traditionally the Ransdells came to Mercer Co., Ky. in 1795, so the sales that
follow may indicate preparations for this migration.]
OE.DB-05/89, pp. 89-90, Deed Book 20, p. 317, 4 Feb. 1794. JOHN RANSDELL and
wife CATHERINE to Alexander Dawney [Downey?] of Culpeper. For £11, 18
shillings, no acreage mentioned, adjoining Col. Francis Moore, James
Somerville, John Ransdell, Rockey Branch, Rapidan R. Witn. Daniel Grinnin Jr.,
James M. Bell, Mark Hornsey.
OE.DB-05/89, pp. 101-2, Deed Book 20, p. 352, 14 Oct. 1794. JOHN RANSDALE and
CATEY to Alexander Dawney, £134, five shillings, 89.5 acres, adjoining Dawney,
Rockey Branch, Col. Francis Moore, Octony Ridge. Witn. Thomas Barbour, Catlett
Conway, Wm. Robertson Jr., Geo. Shepherd.
OE.DB-05/89, p. 102, Deed Book 20, p. 354, 14 Oct. 1794. WILLIAM RANSDELL and
ANN to Alexander Dawney of Culpeper, £190, 4 shillings. 78 acres, adjoining
Dawney, JOHN RANSDELL, George Shepherd. Witn. Catlett Conway, Wm. Robertson
Jr., Geo. Shepherd, Benjamin Willis.
Orange Co., Va. Marriages
John Vogt & T. William Kethley, Jr., Athens, Ga., Iberian Press, 1984,
Virginia Historic Marriage Register: Orange County Marriages, 1747-1850
p. 99, 24 Jan. 1786, Sanford Ransdell security for mg. of Patsy [= Martha]
Ransdell and John Poulter.
p. 110, 30 June 1788, Wharton and John Ransdell witn. mg. of Betsy [=
Elizabeth] Ransdell and John Sanford.
p. 51, 17 Jan. 1792, Sanford Ransdell security for mg. of Molly [= Mary]
Ransdell and Absalom Ford. [An Absalom Ford was in Woodford Co., Ky. in 1800.]
Here follows a PROPOSED outline of the children of Edward
Ransdell and Mary:
[Note that William of Fauquier and Wharton of Fauquier had a great many
children with identical names. It is very difficult to determine which belongs
to which father in a number of cases.]
1. Wharton Ransdell, b. by 1696, d.
ca. 1758, Westmoreland Co. The date of his birth is explained by his serving on
a grand jury in 1717, at which time he was probably 21 or older (Westmoreland
Co. Order Book 1705-21, p. 315a, as cited on p. 13, Holtzclaw). His will
(D&W 13, pp. 143-44) was written on 10 June 1755 and probated 25 Apr. 1758.
He married first Ursula Presly, widow of Daniel Neale and daughter of Peter
Presly and Elizabeth Thompson (see articles on Preslys of Northumberland Co. by
Mrs. O.A. Keach in Tyler's Quarterly, vol. 9, pp. 265-70, and Virginia Magazine
of History and Biography, vol. 34, pp. 92-93, 187-92, and 287-92). Ursula had
an interesting grandmother, Ursula Bysshe, who married Richard Thompson, John
Mottrom, and George Colclough and seemed to hold her own quite well in the
men's world of her day. Other publications and documents not cited here bear
out what is to follow about her. She was a niece of William Claiborne,
secretary of the colony of Virginia at an early day and a man quite disliked in
Maryland for his opposition to the ownership of Kent Island by Maryland instead
of Virginia. Ursula Bysshe had a brother who was the ancestor of the poet Percy
Bysshe Shelley. [It is probably a mistake that Ursula was the daughter of a
Philip Bish of Bristol, England. If any researcher should want to pursue
Ursula's ancestry, I will be glad to furnish the references.] Wharton Ransdell
m. second Mrs. Sarah (Elliott) Sturman, widow of William Sturman, d. 1732, and
the daughter of John Elliott and Sarah Foxall, who was probably the daughter of
John Foxall. This John could possibly be the "Mr. Foxall" with whom
the earlier Edward Ransdell was associated in Maryland. Sarah Ransdell wrote
her will in Westmoreland Co. in 1778 and it was proved in 1781. In her will,
Sarah named a grandson Elliott Sturman, her dau. Sarah Elliott Pierce,
granddaughter Martha Pierce, and son-in-law Joseph Pierce (p. 73, William A.
Crozier, Virginia County Record Publications, New Series, vol. 1, Westmoreland
County, 1913, reprinted by Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, 1971). [See
below also the will of her remarried mother, Sarah Monroe.] The six below are
Wharton's children, who had to have been born no earlier than 1715, since
Daniel Neale, Ursula's first husband died in March 1714.
a. Elizabeth
Ransdell, probably died sometime after August 1727, when she is mentioned in a
deed (transcribed above) of her parents (D&W 8, p. 88) and before the writing
of her father's will in 1755, where her name does not appear.
b. Edward
Ransdell, m. Elizabeth Sturman, apparently his step sister. Edward is mentioned
first in his father's will and received the home plantation. He left a will in
1773 in Westmoreland Co. naming wife Elizabeth, dau. Elizabeth who m. James
Davenport, and nephews Presley [which proves which Edward he is], son of
brother Wharton, and Edward, son of brother William [another proof]
(Fothergill, Wills, p. 187). This Edward may be the Edward Ransdell who signed
the Westmoreland Resolutions protesting English policies.
we assume that Edward's father and mother married fairly soon after the death
of Daniel Neale, then we can assume Elizabeth was born about 1716 and her
brother Edward in about 1718. This would mean that Edward became 21 in about
1739. On that basis we might judge that 1736 and 1738 documents involving an
Edward Ransdell applied to this Edward's uncle by that name. Those dates,
however, are probably too near his theoretical maturity to absolutely rule this
Edward out.
following is written about this family on p. 107 of the second installment of
"Sturman Family Notes" by Mary Hope West and Juliet Fauntleroy, as
found in William and Mary Quarterly, vol. 16, 2nd series (1936), pp. 635-49 and
vol. 17, 2nd series (1937), pp. 99-115: "Elizabeth Sturman, dau. of
William and Sarah (Elliott) Sturman, named in the will of her grandfather John
Sturman II as 'William's girl Betty,' md. her step-brother Edward Ransdell, son
of Wharton Ransdell and his first wife, Ursula Pressly, wid. of Daniel
Neale" [See Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, July 1926, p.
290]. They had at least one child:
Ransdell, md. May 1769, James Davenport, Clerk of Westmoreland Court. This
marriage was listed as an event of much interest. James Davenport was a warm
friend of Richard Henry Lee. Davenport died in 1777, and she md. 2nd, her
kinsman, Dr. George Steptoe, and lived at Windsor. Her second husband was half brother
to the wife of Thomas Ludwell Lee and to Mrs. Philip Ludwell Lee of Stratford,
and to Mrs. Samuel Washington, wife of the brother of Gen. George Washington.
Her second husband died in 1784, also her two children."
by Robert P. Moore: One notices here, perhaps with surprise, the association of
this family with some of the famous names of Westmoreland Co. If one recalls,
though, the size of these places in the early 1700s, he should not be
surprised. Thirty-odd years later at the time of the first census (1790) of the
U.S., Westmoreland Co. still had a population of only a little over 7,000. It
is probable that many of the citizens of the county knew each other. Even today
Westmoreland Co. is still a rural area, there being only 15,000 inhabitants in
the 1990 census.]
c. Wharton
Ransdell, m. by 3 Dec. 1744, Margaret Barrow, daughter of Edward Barrow and
Elizabeth Minor (dau. of Nicholas Minor, d. 1744, Westmoreland Co.). His will
is in Fauquier Co. Will Book 2, pp. 92-93, wr. 27 Jan. 1786, pr. 26 June 1786.
(For marriage of Margaret and her ancestry, see pp. 166 and 11, Marriages of
Richmond County, Virginia, 1668-1853, compiled and published by George H.S.
King, Fredericksburg, 1964, and p. 170, Fauquier County, Virginia Wills,
Inventories and Accounts, 1759-1800, compiled and published by John K. Gott,
1976, henceforth cited as Gott, Wills.) King cannot give a specific date of
marriage, but refers to documents, including Richmond Co. Account Book 1, p.
209, that show that they were already married by 3 Dec. 1744. The children are
listed here, following as closely as possibly the order in Wharton's will,
which seems NOT to be an indication of their order of birth. This Wharton and
his brother William below both had children named William, Sarah, Thomas,
Elizabeth, Edward, and Wharton. It is, therefore very risky to make a hard and
fast assignment of the people by these names to one or the other of the
fathers, so the researcher should realize that I do not commit myself to my
speculations regarding Ransdells of that generation by those identical names.
The Elizabeth who married Cadwallader Slaughter is an exception. She is clearly
the daughter of Wharton, as indicated by Wharton's will. The same is true of
William's daughter Sarah. She is the one who married Nathaniel Gray. The
greatest problems are with distinguishing the Thomases and Williams. A thorough
search of Fauquier Co. records might resolve some of the questions. Some
available Ransdell documents in Fauquier Co. are listed in pages 289 and 290 of
Fauquier Families, 1759-1799, John P. Alcock, Iberian Publishing Co., Athens,
Ga., 1994. However, Alcock seems not to have listed all essential Ransdell
documents in Fauquier records. This is probably the Wharton who was called
Capt. Wharton Ransdell in the inventory of his estate in Fauquier Will Book 2,
p. 118, taken on 14 Sept. 1786 and returned 25 June 1787 by Ambrose Barnett,
James Hathaway, and George Carter, who gave an appraisal of £891.8.11 (Gott,
Wills, p. 178).
(1) William
Ransdell. See comments here under his brother Thomas. See also Thomas, son of
William and Mary Chilton.
(2) Ann
Ransdell, m. 14 June 1779, Fauquier Co., Va., Turner Morehead. Their children
can be found in the Morehead work cited below after Presley Ransdell.
(3) Margaret
(4) Sarah
(5) Thomas
Ransdell Possibly the one called "Sr." See Thomas Ransdell below, son
of William Ransdell and Mary Chilton. It is not yet clear which of these is the
one called Thomas Ransdell and which Thomas Ransdell Jr. Schreiner-Yantis's
transcription of the Fauquier Co. personal property tax list of 1787 contains
two Thomas Ransdells, one identified as "Sr." The other Thomas is the
responsibility of William Ransdell, probably a brother. At present it is not
possible to determine whether these two are the sons of Wharton or of William
(and Mary Chilton). If dates of listing in that census are significant, these
two seem to be living close to some of the Moreheads. Wharton Ransdell (m.
Margaret Barrow) appears to be older than his brother William, so it is
possible that his son Thomas was born before William's son Thomas. If that is
the case, then the Thomas Sr. in 1787 is probably Wharton's son, while the
William and Thomas listed together are probably sons of William Ransdell and
Mary Chilton. Thomas may have died ca. Oct. 1793 (see p. 290 of the
above-mentioned Fauquier Families, John P. Alcock) when his estate was
administered by William Ball, but see his cousin Thomas below. The inventory of
the estate administered by William Ball is in Will Book 2, p. 320, dated 8 Jan.
1794, taken by David McNish, William Hunton Jr., Thomas Hunton and Daniel Gray
(Gott, Wills, p. 233). The estate was appraised at £237.7.9.
(6) Elizabeth
Ransdell, b. 6 Apr. 1746, Overwharton Parish, Stafford Co., Va., m. 17 Dec.
1762, Fauquier Co., Va., Cadwallader Slaughter. Elizabeth's and the two other
birth dates of Wharton's children are from p. 99, The Register of Overwharton
Parish, Stafford County, Virginia, 1723-1758, comp. and publ. by George H.S.
King, Fredericksburg, 1961. Cadwallader and Elizabeth moved to Jefferson Co.,
(7) Edward
Ransdell, b. 10 June 1748, Overwharton Parish, Stafford Co., Va.
(8) John
Ransdell m. Elizabeth Chinn and moved to Kentucky. [Her identity was given me
by William K. Ransdell, Louisville, Ky., in doing so, contradicting the
opinions of those who say she was Elizabeth Moore. See his typescript history
of his branch of the Ransdells Sifted From the Ashes, published 1988, in the
holdings of the library of the Kentucky Historical Society, Frankfort.] The
following remnants of a will from Fayette Co., Ky. burnt records may be
applicable. Fayette Co. Burnt Records, vol. 6, pp. 100-101, 179_, Will of .....
Ransdell to wife Elizabeth. Witn. John Ransdell Jr., W.....liam Chinn, __
Bradford., prob. 1800. Schedule of estate of John Ransdell, decd. See also vol.
6, p. 109, inventory[?], £445.8. The following, proving the marriage to
Elizabeth Chinn, was sent to me in a letter from James Finley: Claims filed in
Public Land Records Office, London, England, Class A, p. 44. Debts which cannot
be recovered in Va. courts. Elizabeth Chinn of Loudoun Co., Va., debt due with
interest from 1773, 13 shillings, 1 pence. Intermarried with John Ransdell, who
has since removed to Kentucky and solvent. Enquire of Col. Powell. (There was
another, unplaced John Ransdell who m. Lucy Chilton, b. ca. 1773, and moved to
Henry Co., Ky. Lucy was the dau. of John Chilton, b. 1739, d. bef. 24 Nov.
1777, killed at the battle of Brandywine in the Revolution. Lucy's parents were
John Chilton and Letitia Blackwell. [See Dorman's history of the Chilton family
in the Virginia Genealogist as referred to below under the section onWilliam
Ransdell and Mary Chilton.])
(9) Wharton
Ransdell, b. 28 Jan. 1750, Overwharton Parish, Stafford Co., Va. See the
Wharton below, son of William Ransdell and Mary Chilton. It is still difficult
to distinguish the two cousins. This Wharton, son of Wharton, is probably the
one who m. Mary Morehead on 16 Jan. 1782, bondsman Turner Morehead (see Gott,
Fauquier Co. Marriages, p. 164). Since a Wharton (not the grandfather above)
had an inventory (total £240.7.0) returned by William Norris, George Carter and
Turner Morehead on 23 Oct. 1786 in Fauquier Co., he probably died earlier that
year. His administrator was Turner Morehead. (See p. 178, Gott, Wills, from
Fauquier Co. Will Book 2, p. 109). It is not impossible that his wife Mary
Morehead is the Mary Ransdell who m. 18 Nov. 1786, Fauquier Co., Va., Thomas
Ransdell Jr. (son of William and Mary Chilton??), bondsman Thomas Ransdell (see
Gott, Fauquier Co. Marriages, p. 164). It would be logical for this Wharton's
father Wharton (see his will) to provide for the two grandsons (Wharton
Ransdell and Charles Morehead Ransdell) because their father had died or was
ill when they were still children. This Wharton may be the one mentioned in the
Alcock index whose estate was sold in 1792 to pay his debts. Could the Margaret
Ransdell who was bound out to Robert Hunton in 1792 be a part of this family?
(See Alford index.)
(10) Presley
Ransdell, probably d. before his father, who did not name him in his will.
Mentioned by Wharton's brother Edward, d. 1773, above.
information was obtained from a typescript in the library of the Kentucky Historical
Society entitled Kentucky Families Descended from Charles and Mary (Turner)
Morehead, comp. Lola Herron Jaques, Nov. 1979. Their son Turner Morehead is
said to have m. (1) Ann Ransdell, dau. of Wharton, who died sometime between
Aug. 1795 and Jan. 1798. Turner and Ann had nine children, born between Jan.
1780 and Aug. 1795. Two of them, Peggy and Polly, married Charles Morehead
Ransdell and Wharton Ransdell IV, apparently their cousins, in Nelson Co., Ky.
on 23 June 1806 (p. 122, Marriage Bond & Consent Book of Nelson County,
1801-1816, publ. by Nelson County Genealogists, Bardstown, Ky., no date.). This
grandson Wharton appears as a baker at age 65 (b. ca. 1785) with his wife Mary,
also 65, in the 1850 census of Sangamon Co., Illinois. His sons (or grandsons?)
Wharton, Presley and James B., all b. Ky., were carpenters or cabinet makers.
There was also a Walter Ransdell, b. ca. 1824, Ky., in the same census with his
own family.
d. William
Ransdell, d. 1776, m. Mary Chilton, d. ca. 1788, dau. of Thomas Chilton and
Jemima Cooke. Information given here for this family is chiefly from John F.
Dorman's series of articles on "The Chilton Families of Virginia and
Maryland," in the Virginia Genealogist. The applicable installment is on
pp. 15-18 of vol. 14, No. 1 (Jan.-March, 1970). His will in Fauquier Co. Will
Book 1, pp. 289-90, wr. 3 July 1776 and pr. 29 Oct. 1776 (Gott, Wills, p. 74),
mentions only his sons Wharton, Thomas, William, Edward and Chilton, but a
family Bible cited by Mark A. Chilton in a letter to Robert Hall Chilton, later
aide to Robert E. Lee, gives the remaining children on the list. William and
Mary may have had another son John. Note that Fauquier Co. Deed Book 8, pp.
138-40 (1784), mentions a John Ransdell, son of William. (Recall that William
did not name all his children in his will.) Perhaps he is the unidentified John
Ransdell who married Nov. 1792, Fauquier Co., Lucy Chilton and went to Henry
Co., Ky. If some researchers are correct, however, that the John who m. Lucy
Chilton was born ca. 1769 (proof not given), then he may be too young to have
been the one living independently in 1784.
(1) Thomas
Ransdell. Probably the Thomas Ransdell who d. ca. Sept. 1796 with his estate
administered by Chilton Ransdell with Orrick Chilton and William Ball Jr. as
Chilton's securities (see again Alcock's Fauquier Families). No matter which
Thomas was called Jr., the Thomas, son of William and Mary, is more likely to
be the one who d. in 1796, since Orrick and Chilton Ransdell are his brothers.
See also below where Chilton Ransdell is appointed guardian in 1796 of John and
Maria, orphans of Thomas. He is POSSIBLY the one called Thomas Ransdell
"Jr.," and thus is perhaps the Thomas Ransdell Jr. who m. 18 Nov.
1786, Fauquier Co., Va., Mary Ransdell. (Probably junior to his cousin Thomas
above.) The inventory of the estate of Major Thomas Ransdell is in Wills, Gott,
p. 265, which indicates that it was in Fauquier Co. Will Book 3, pp. 32-34, 21
Oct. 1796. The appraisal was made by Samuel Steele, George Rogers, and Joseph
Hale, with the estate evaluated at £669.4.6.
(2) William
Ransdell. He could be the one who d. ca. 1788, Fauquier Co. (See, p. 290,
Fauquier Families, 1759-1799, where Turner Morehead was granted administration
of that William's estate. It is not impossible, of course, that this was the
son of Wharton and Margaret Barrow, especially with a Morehead administering
the estate. I am inclined to think that the William listed in the 1787 Fauquier
property tax list (who must be the one who d. in 1788) is this one, the son of
William and Mary Chilton. See reasons under Thomas, son of Wharton above. See
Wills, Gott, p. 182, which shows the inventory taken by Ambrose Barnett, David
McNish, and Thomas Saunders and appraised at £168.18.0. It may be a mistake on
my part to attribute too much importance to assocations with Moreheads in
deciding whether a given person is a child of Wharton or of William Ransdell.
(3) Wharton
Ransdell, living 1790, apparently died unm. See p. 290, Alcock's Fauquier
Families, where there is mention in June 1792 of the selling of the estate of
Wharton, son of William and Mary to pay debts. Turner Morehead was
administrator. The Morehead administration could, however, indicate a son of
Wharton rather than William. In Schreiner-Yantis's transcription of the 1787
personal property tax list of Fauquier Co., Wharton is probably living with his
mother, since Mary Ransdell is stated to be responsible for Wharton's tax.
(4) Chilton
Ransdell, d. 1808 Fauquier Co., Va. (see Fauquier Will Book 4, pp. 516-17), m.
13 Jan. 1792, Fauquier Co., Va., cousin Susanna Chilton, dau. of William
Chilton (Mary Chilton Ransdell's brother) and Sarah Orrick. He owned land in
Kentucky, according to p. 289, Fauquier Families. Alcock.
(5) Stephen
Ransdell. Resided in Fauquier. Left an only heir John Ransdell (Chilton article
by Dorman), although this would not necessarily be a son of his. Alcock's index
indicates that Chilton Ransdell was guardian of a John and Maria, orphans of
Thomas in 1796. This index shows Stephen listed on Fauquier Co. tithable lists
with Mary Ransdell in 1788 and 1789 and with Wharton in 1791. He appears on
such lists as late as 1799.
(6) Mary
Ransdell, apparently m. 5 Jan. 1789, Fauquier Co., Va., John Clarke.
(7) Ursula
Ransdell. Found only in letter from Mark A. Chilton to Robert H. Chilton, cited
by Dorman in his Chilton family history.
(8) Edward
Ransdell. Mentioned in 1773 will of uncle Edward, above.
(9) Sally
Ransdell, m. 26 Sept. 1786, Fauquier Co., Va., Nathaniel Gray and apparently
died soon afterwards.
(10) Elizabeth
(Betsy) Ransdell, m. 18 March 1789, Fauquier Co., Va., Nathaniel Gray.
Wharton's children by Mrs. Sarah
(Elliott) Sturman (widowed by William Sturman, d. 1732), who d. ca. 1781:
e. Thomas
Ransdell, b. after 1732, d. young. Mentioned in his grandmother, Mrs. Sarah
Monroe's 1739 will (Westmoreland Co. Will Book 9, p. 33 [p. 106, WDWS, 1995]),
but not in his father's.
f. Sarah
Elliott Ransdell, b. 1737, d. 1785, m. Joseph Peirce, b. ca. 1728, d. 1798,
both bur. "Level Green," where their tombstones are recorded,
Westmoreland Co., Va. (p. 251, King, Richmond Co. Marriages). Her mother Sarah
Ransdell, in her will written in 1778 and proved in 1781 (Westmoreland Co. Will
Book 16), names a granddaughter Martha Peirce, wife of Thomas Hill. The
Fothergill transcription of Wharton's will has her as ELIZABETH Elliott Peirce.
I have a xerox copy of the will from the will book, and twice it reads clearly
SARAH Elliott Peirce. Their son Ransdell Peirce was b. ca. 1770 and d. 1853,
leaving descendants in Lancaster Co., Va., one of whom I have corresponded
with. Joseph Peirce was the son of William Peirce, d. 1733, Westmoreland Co.,
and Sibella_____ (p. 251, King, Richmond Co. Marriages).
(1) Martha
(2) Ransdell
Peirce, b. 1775, d. 1853. A descendant, Harman Chilton Treakle, says that he m.
(1) 17 Nov. 1794, Lancaster Co., Va., Ann Graham, dau. of John Graham and
Elizabeth., and (2) on 28 Apr. 1847, Westmoreland Co., Nancy G. Barnes. All his
children were by his first wife.
(3) Fanny
Peirce, m. _____ Larue. Her will is in Richmond Co., Va., Will Book 11, p. 18,
wr. 3 Feb. 1846, pr. 7 Sept. 1846. Her heirs were niece Mary E.H. Mitchell;
Margaret E. Herndon, dau. of Richard N. Herndon; brother Ransdell Pierce; and
his children Joseph Pierce, Graham C. Pierce, William G. Pierce, Ann S. H.
Brooke, Mary E.H. Mitchell. Apparently she left nothing to the families of her
other siblings.
(4) Isabella
Peirce, m. (1) Thomas Chilton, son of Thomas Chilton and Jemima Cooke (John F.
Dorman, "The Chilton Families," Virginia Genalogist, vol. 14, No. 1,
pp. 19-20), who d. by 1781, (2) Samuel Templeman, b. 1758, Westmoreland Co.,
Va., a merchant and Baptist minister.
2. Elizabeth Ransdell m. (1) by 1724
(see father Edward's will above) Samuel Talbot, d. 1727 (Richmond Co. Will Book
5, p. 32) and (2) in Richmond Co. on 10 Aug. 1727 (North Farnham Parish
Register), William Thornton, son of Luke Thornton and Margaret James[?]. Dr.
Holtzclaw says they had an only son Jesse Thornton. William Thornton d. in 1741
in Richmond Co. (inventory ordered 3 Aug. 1741, see Richmond Co. Will Book 5,
p. 389 and Order Book 11, p. 197). Elizabeth wrote her will on 6 Apr. 1742 and
it was probated on 3 May 1742 (Richmond Co. Will Book 5, p. 397, Wharton
Ransdell, witn. [p. 84, Headley, Richmond Co. Wills]). The whole estate was
left to her son Jesse Thornton. (The references to documents concerning
Elizabeth and Millicent are on pp. 12-13 and 16, Holtzclaw.)
3. Millicent Ransdell m. (1) William
Longworth, who d. in 1724 (see the administration of his estate in Westmoreland
Co. Order Book 1721-31, p. 76) and had two children by him. She m. (2) Luke
Thornton, brother of her sister's second husband, and by 1734 the Thorntons and
Millicent's brother John Ransdell had moved to the part of Spotsylvania Co.
that was soon to become Orange Co. (see Spotsylvania Co. deed below). Dr.
Holtzclaw discusses this family on pp. 23-26 of his Thornton article. He names
the Thornton children with some uncertainty.
a. William
Longworth, b. 1721, d. 9 Nov. 1726, according to North Farnham Parish records.
b. Jemima
Longworth, b. Sept. 1724, m. ca. 1740/4, Orange Co., Va., her stepfather's
cousin John Thornton.
c. Possibly
William Thornton (who may have been a son of Luke's brother James)
d. Almost
certainly John Thornton, d. Orange Co., 1781, who may have been the youngest
son. Three of his children moved to Culpeper Co., Va. Some descendants moved to
e. Presley
Thornton of Orange Co., b. ca. 1735/6, d. 1815, Pittsylvania Co., Va.
4. Edward Ransdell Jr., b. after 1703
(minor in 1724). It is POSSIBLE he was the executor in 1736 of the will of
William Shaw. (See Fothergill, Wills, p. 101. Will of William Shaw, 7 June
1736-29 June 1736. To Elizabeth Sturman, to Edward Ransdell Jr. (one horse),
Joseph Stone, sisters Sarah and Jane Shaw. Edward Ransdell, exr. The will seems
to mention two different Edward Ransdells.
5. John Ransdell, b. after 1703 (minor
in 1724). It is POSSIBLE, since he appears to have had a son and later
descendants named Sanford Ransdell, that his wife was a Sanford. No mention has
yet been found in any of the records of Orange or Westmoreland Co. that would
suggest who this wife was. Among the Sanfords of Mercer Co., Kentucky was a
Youell/Uel Sanford, associated there with the Ransdells, so this possible wife
of John's could be from the same line. See some speculation on Uel/Youell
Sanford's b0eing a descendant of Youell Sanford of Westmoreland Co., son of
Thomas, d. 1770, on p. 160 in an account of the Westmoreland Sanfords by
Rosemary Corley Neal, pp. 93-166, Southern Sojourners, published in 1991 by the
author. This book does not, however, come to any conclusions about the Sanfords
of Kentucky, nor does it discuss the possibility of John Ransdell's having a
Sanford wife. John Ransdell moved to Spotsylvania Co. in 1734, to the part that
became Orange Co. in 1735. It is interesting to note that on 26 March 1734,
John Ransdell and Luke Thornton witnessed a deed in Westmoreland Co. as
recorded in D&W8, pp. 233-34 (WDWS 1732-1734, pp. 78-80, 1995) from William
Rice to William Templeman, while in November of that year they appear in a
Spotsylvania Co. deed of 30 Nov. 1734 (see more complete reference to this deed
in section on Orange Co. Ransdells), so they could have moved in the interval.
1801-2, MERCER CO., KY., WHO M. ANN PETTY. At this point there are many
uncertainties about how many children John Ransdell had. Those that are rather
certain are John, William, Jesse, Sanford, Elizabeth, possibly Molly Ford, and
possibly George. John, William, and Sanford moved to Mercer Co., Ky. Molly and
husband Absalom Ford moved to Woodford Co., Ky., Jesse died in Orange Co., and
Elizabeth and George appear very briefly in Orange Co., Va. See Robert P.
Moore's separate study of this family for further details. The order of the
possible children below does not imply order of birth.
a. William
Ransdell, d. ca.1801-2, Mercer Co., Ky., m. by ca. 1760, Ann Petty, dau. of
b. possibly
Molly Ransdell m. 17 Jan. 1792, Orange Co., Va., Absalom Ford. Lived in
Woodford Co., Ky. This is a very late marriage compared to that of her supposed
brother William, just above. Is she Sanford's daughter?
c. Sanford
Ransdell, d. 1831, Mercer Co., Ky. See Mercer Co. Will Book 9, p. 494, will of
Sanford Ransdell, wr. 27 Dec. 1831, pr. June 1832. Slave to niece Mary Ann
Bowen and at death to her dau. Nancy Bowen [spelled Bourn(e) in division of
land of William Ransdell in Will Book 9, p. 280]; another slave to her to be
sold and divided among her three daus. Kitty, Martha Ann, and Sally Bowen. Rest
to be divided equally between Jno. Thrailkill, Absolom Ford Sr., and Philip
Ransdale. [This alternation between Bowen and Bourne is common and recognized
in this Ky. family. In the division of Ransdell land Mary Ann is called Polly,
a former nickname for Mary.]
d. Jesse
Ransdell, d. ca. 1792, Orange Co., Ky.
e. Elizabeth
Ransdell, mentioned once in 1777 in Orange Co. records as sister of Sanford.
f. John
Ransdell, may have d. in Mercer Co., Ky., m. Catherine _____ no later than Feb.
1794 and probably earlier.
g. possibly
George Ransdell.
Ransdells in Kentucky Census and Tax Records
1790 Ky. tax lists
Fayette Co. John
1800 Kentucky tax lists
Co. Edward John
Sr. Wharton Wm.
Sr. Wm. Zachary
Co. John
Barren C.?? Wm. Rasdale
Sr. Wm.
****1810 census
Mercer Sanford John Whorton Zachariah
Henry John
Shelby Foxall
Fayette Presly
Franklin Christopher
Warren Whorton Charles
1820 census
Mercer Elizabeth Wharter Fielding
Henry John T. Thomas
Fayette Presley John William
Franklin Christopher
C. James Zachariah
(2) Ben
Scott John
Woodford Zachariah
Warren Wharten
1830 census
Mercer Elizabeth Wharton Fielding Ben James
Henry John
(2) Thomas William Wharton Foxall
Fayette Presley William
Franklin Ann John Patsey
Scott George Mary
Ann Zachariah
Clark John
Union Cynthia
Warren Whorton
1840 census
Mercer Benj.
F. Fielding Harrison J.C. Felix
John Sanford Shelton Wm.
Henry John Susan Thomas
T. Wharton
M. Randall[?]
Owen Wm. Zach.
Scott Catherine
Jefferson William
H. Randall[?]
Fayette William
P. Randall[?]
Warren, Franklin, Fayette show no Ransdells, but note 1850
Mercer Benj.
Fielding James Sanford Felix
Shelton John
Henry F.
Jr. Franklin John
C. Susan Thomas
J. Wm. Ed.
C. Isaac John
Owen Ann Wm. Julia Zach.
Fayette Margaret
Franklin George P.L.
Oldham A.M.
Warren?? Chas.
M. Lucy
Rasdal Eliz. Rasdale Urias
Rasdall Wm. Rasdall
Ballard Wm.
Bourbon W.P.
Carroll Luther Sherman
Henry William E.W. J.C. W.T.
McCracken Charles
Mercer John B.F. C.C. J.C. J.R. Margrett
Owen Benajmin
F. (2) Julia
A. Louis
A. Marine Sarah
Zach Zackry
Censuses Other Than Kentucky
Indiana, 1840
Boone William
Johnson Ben
B. Robert
C. Andrew
J. Zachariah William
Jennings Noah
Marion Wharton John
A. Presley
Vigo George S
Indiana census, 1850
?Hiram Ransall, Marion Co.?
Boone Walter
Ransdell William
Vigo William George Phebe Sanford
(2) James Ransel
Marion Horton
(Wharton?) Presley
(2) John
Johnson Benj.
B. Wm.
(2) James Robert
C. Andrew
Jennings Noah
Illinois, 1850
Sangamon Walter Wharton
Morgan Eli Louisa William
Kane ` Dwight
Madison Benjamin
Tax Records of Mercer Co., Ky., 1789-1813 as regards
Ransdells, G.S. No. 008,156
[none in 1789 and 1794]
1795, June 26
William 1
white male
16-21 1
black male under 16
Wharton 1
white male over
21 1
John 1
white male over
21 1
Zachariah 1
white male over
21 1
1796, June 24
John 1
white male over
21 1
William 1
white male over 21 1
Wharton 1
white male over
21 1
horse, 2 cows 1000
acres on Salt and Chaplin Rivers
Zachariah 1
white male over
21 1
horse, 1 cow
1797, June 14
William 2
white males over
21 1
white male over
16 2
Wharton 1
white male over
21 1
horse 1000
1799, June
Foxall 1
white male over
21 2
John 1
white male over
21 1
white male over 16 4
horses 50 acres, Salt R.
John 1
white male over
21 1
white male over
21 1
William 1
white male over
21 1
horse 500
acres, Salt and Chaplin R.
Wharton 1
white male over
21 1
horse 200
1800, Aug
Wharton 1
white male over
21 1
horse 200
acres, Salt R.
Edward 1
white male over
Sr. 1
white male over
21 1
white male over 16 5
horses 50 acres
Jr. 1
white male over
21 1
Sr. 1
white male over
21 1
horse 400
acres, Salt River
William 1
white male over
21 5
horses 100
acres, Salt and Chaplin R.
Zachariah 1
white male over
21 2
1801, July 30,31
Zack 1
white male over
21 2
horses 100
acres, Chaplin R.
John 1
white male over
21 2
John 2
white males over
21 3
horses 50
acres, Salt R.
Sr. 1
white male over
21 2
horses 300
acres, Salt R.
William 1
white male over
21 2
horses 100
acres, Chaplin R.
NOTE: The delinquent tax list for this year says that Wm. Ransdell has moved to
Scott Co. and note that in 1802, Ann, Wm.'s widow, has 400 acres instead of
Wm.'s 300. Find no such deed (of 100 acres) from Wm. Jr. to his mother. Scott
Co. has lost a great many records to a fire, so it may be difficult to find
William there.
Wharton 1
white male over 21 2
horses 200
acres, Salt R.
Foxall 1
white male over
21 1
1802, Sept.
Sanford 1
white male over 21
Edward 1
white male over 21
John 1
white male over
21 3
horses 50
acres, Salt R.
John 1
white male over
21 2
Ann 2
horses 400
acres, Salt R.
Wharton 1
white male over
21 3
horses 200
acres, Salt R.
Foxall 1
white male over
21 3
Zack 1
white male over
21 2
horses 100
acres, Chaplin R.
1803, Aug. 26
Edward 1
white male over 21
John 1
white male over
21 2
horses 50
acres, Salt R.
John 1
white male over 21 3
Nansey [Ann] 1 white male over
16 3
horses 400
acres, Salt R.
Wharton 1
white male over
21 4
horses 200
acres, Salt R.
Zach. 1
white male over
21 ??
horses 100
acres, Chaplin R.
1804, July 31, Aug. 1
John 1
white male over
21 3
Edward 1
white male over
21 2
horses 50
acres, Salt R.
Nansey 1
white male over
16 3
horses 400
acres, Salt R.
Wharton 1
white male over
21 5
horses 200
acres, Salt R.
Foxall 1
white male over
21 3
Zach. 1
white male over
21 5
horses 100
acres, Chaplin R.
1805, Aug. 20, 27
John 1
white male over 21 2
white male over
21 2
horses 50
acres, Salt R.
Ann 1
white male over
16 4
horses 400
acres, Salt R.
Ann ?? 4
Wharton 1
white male over
21 6
horses 200
acres, Salt R.
Foxall 1
white male over
21 1
Zachariah 1
white male over
21 5
horses 100
acres, Chaplin R.
1806, May
Foxall 1
white male over
21 5
John 1
white male over
21 2
horses 100
acres, Salt R.
1806, Oct.
Nancy 1
white male over
16 5
horses 400
acres, Salt R.
Anna 1
white male over
16 4
horses 100
acres, Thompson Ck.
Catrine 1
white male over
21 1
horse 50
acres, Salt R.
1807, Sept.
Ann 1
white male over
16 5
horses 400
acres, Salt R.
John 1
white male over
21 6
horses 150
acres, Salt R.
Zachariah 1
white male over
21 .......... 100
acres, Salt R.
Wharton 1
white male over 21 5
horses 200
acres, Salt R.
Foxall 1
white male over
21 5
1808, Sept., Oct.
Sanford 1
white male over 21
Foxall 1
white male over
21 4
horses 2
Ann 1
white male over
21 7
horses 400
acres, Salt R.
Wharton 1
white male over
21 2
horses 200
acres, Salt R.
Zachariah 2
white males over
21 4
horses 100
acres, Salt R.
John 1
white male over
21 6
horses 150
acres Salt R.
1809, June, July, Aug.
Sanford 1
white male over
21 1
black ......
Fielding 1
white male over
21 2
Nancy 2
horses 400
acres, Salt R.
Wharton 1
white male over
21 4
horses 200
acres, Salt R.
John 1
white male over
21 4
horses 150
acres, Salt R.
Zachariah 1
white male over 21 5
horses 100
acres, Chaplin R.
1810, July
Fielden 1
white male over
21 2
Nancy 1
white male over
21 3
horses 400
acres, Salt R.
Wharton 1
white male over
21 6
horses 200
acres Salt R.
John 1
white male over
21 3
horses 150
acres, Salt R.
Zachary 1
white male over
21 6
horses 100
acres, Chaplin R.
1811, Aug.
Sanford 1
white male over 21
Fielden 1
white male over
21 4
Nancy 3
horses 400
acres, Salt R.
Wharton 1
white male over
21 6
horses 200
acres, Salt R.
John 1
white male over
21 3
horses 150
acres, Salt R.
Zach. 1
white male over
21 5
horses 100
acres, Salt R.
Sanford 1
white male over
21 1
black (2 total)
Fielden 1
white male over 21 4
Nancy 400
acres, Salt R.
a probable oversight]
Wharton 1
white male over
21 7
horses 200
acres, Salt R.
Zach. 1
white male over
21 4
horses 100
acres, Chaplin R.
Fielding 1
white male over
21 3
Nancy 400
acres, Salt R.
John 1
white male over
21 3
horses 150
acres, Salt R.
Wharton 1
white male over
21 7
horses 200
acres, Salt R.
Zach. 1
white male over
21 ...
horses 100
Nancy 400
acres, Chaplin R.
Fielding 1
white male over
21 4
John 1
white male over
21 4
horses 150
acres, Salt R.
Wharton 1
white male over
21 5
horses 200
acres, Salt R.
Sandford 1
white male over
21 2
slaves 1
town lot
1816 (1817 same)
Nancy 400
acres, Chaplin Creek
Fielding 1
white male over
21 2
Wharton 1
white male over
21 4
horses 200
acres, Salt R.
Sanford 1
white male over 21 2
slaves 1
town lot
Elizabeth 2
horses 150
acres, Salt R.
Fielding 1
white male over
21 2
Ann 400
acres, Chaplin, Creek
Wharton 1
white male over
21 6
horses 200
acres, Salt R.
Sanford 1
white male over 21 2
slaves 1
town lot
1819 (1820 same)
Fielden 1
white male over
21 2
Elizabeth 1
horse 150
acres, Salt R.
Wharton 1
white male over
21 4
horses 200
acres, Salt R.
Sanford 1
white male over 21
William Ransdell probably died in 1801 or 1802, since he is not in the tax list
for 1802. The same is true of his son William Jr. Note that William's wife Ann
becomes responsible for the taxes in 1802 and that she last appears in 1818.
Notice that when William Sr.'s probable brother John disappears from the tax
lists in 1804, the 50 acres he had passes to Edward, a possible son, and when
Edward disappears in 1806, the tax on the 50 acres is paid by John's wife
Catherine. John and Catherine had also appeared together in deeds in Orange Co.
before the move to Ky. It could be that the 50 acres passed into the hands of
John, William's son in 1807, since his holdings increased from 100 to 150
acres. Zachariah appears to have moved out of the county between 1813 and 1815,
and Foxall is gone by 1809. Although the land does not appear in the taxes of
any Ransdell after Ann's disappearance, it was still in the hands of the estate
until the division among heirs was made some years later in 1830. Notice that
John, son of Wm., evidently died sometime after 1815. His widow Elizabeth paid
the taxes after that.
Mercer Co., Ky. Will Book 9, pp. 280-84
[This document has been mistakenly called William Ransdell's will. There is no
will on record for him. This lists all the children of Wm. Ransdell and Ann
We the undersigned commissioners
appointed by the county court of
Mercer County at their January
term 1830 for the purpose of
dividing a tract of land belonging
area has plat of the various lots]
to the heirs of William Ransdale
Decd lying in said county on the head
branches of Thompson Creek a branch
of Chaplin, Being first sworn according
to law proceeded to discharge that duty
by meeting on the premises on Tuesday
the 19th day of January 1830 in the presence of the Adult heirs, Their agents
& attornies and the Guardian ad litem of the Infant heirs & surveyed
the whole tract which we found to be bounded as follows, viz... Beginning at
two white oak trees in the line of Robert B. McAfee in a small drain corner to
a fifty acre tract surveyed for John Ransdale deceased now in the possession of
his widow Elizabeth Ransdale and near the N.E corner of her field, thence North
120 poles to two white oaks and a hickory on the north side of a drain, one of
the original corners, thence West (passing William Killeys corner at 126 poles)
350 poles in all to a Buckeye standing on the South point of a ridge inside of
Micajah Mosby's field (the sugar ash and dogwood gone) another of the original
corners, thence South 482 poles (passing M. Mosby's corner a walnut at 20 poles
- John Potters first corner at 212 poles 2 hickories, Black oak and post oak,
his second corner, a walnut and white oak at 392 poles and the Bloomfield road
at 440 poles to two post oaks and red oak on a ridge one of the post oaks dead
& lying on the ground The South west corner of the original Survey thence
East 116 poles to two white oaks on the est side of a ridge corner to John
Sandford recrossing the Bloomfield road at 36 poles and a red oak down corner
to Hites 600 acre Survey at 92 poles, thence North 204 poles to two white oaks
and walnut on the west turn of a ridge another corner of John Sandford, Thence
the same course North 86 poles to a Mulberry, Buckeye, and ash at the foot of a
Bank near a Branch corner to Zachariah Ransdale's 100 acres now William G.
Vannarsdale's land, thence East 140 poles to a dogwood, elm & white oak
(all gone) and stone another of sd. Ransdale's corners in John Ransdale's line,
Thence North 85 poles to two post oaks, on the north side of a ridge another of
sd. Ransdales corners thence East 104 poles to the Beginning Containing Six
hundred and four acres
Robert C.
McKany ch
crs Robert
B. McAfee
Ransdale Surveyor
and one of the
Wm. C. Vanarsdale -
marker Commissioners
To tomorrow 8 o'clock
January 20th We again met on the premises with the same Surveyor, chain
carriers & Marker and having examined sd. tract of land proceeded to lay
off by metes and bounds, the sd. tract of land into twelve lots having due
regard to quantity & quality as follows viz
Lott 1 containing fifty acres is
bounded as follows viz Beginning at the South west corner of the Survey at
letter D on the platt, two post oaks, and a red oak on a ridge thence East 116
to two white oaks corner to John Sandford, thence North 69 poles to two white
oaks and a sassaras in sd. Sandford's line on the side of a hill, thence West
116 poles to a white oak hickory and walnut thence South 69 poles to the
beginning Allotted to Zachariah Ransdale.
Lott 2 Bounded as follows viz Beginning at N.W. corner of lott 1 a white oak
hickory and a walnut thence North 69 poles to a Stone, two dogwoods and a red
bud on the west side of a hill thence East 116 poles to a walnut tree, on the
East side of a ridge thence South 69 poles to two white oaks and a sassafras
corner to lott 1 thence West 116 poles to the Beginining. Allotted to John
Bohon for life the husband (of Sally Ransdale) and her legal representatives in
Lott 3 Bounded as follows viz Beginning at the N.E. corner of lott 2 A Walnut
tree on the east side of a ridge in John Sandford's line thence North 69 poles
passing sd. Sandfords corner 3 poles to two white oak trees on the west side of
a ridge, thence west 116 poles to a hickory & two white oak trees in John
Potter's line thence South 69 poles to a stone two dogwoods and a red bud on
the side of a hill thence East 116 poles to the Beginning Allotted to Fielding Ransdale
- - - 50 acres.
Lott 4 Bounded as follows viz
Beginning at the N.E. corner of Lott 3 at two white oaks on the west side of a
ridge 3 poles North of John Sandford's corner, thence North 69 poles to a white
oak Sugar tree and Dogwood standing near the foot of a hill, thence West 116
poles to a white oak and walnut on the north turn of a ridge thence South 69
poles to a hickory and two white oaks thence East 116 poles to the Beginning __
Allotted to Foxall Ransdale 50 acres
Lott 5 Bounded as follows viz Beginning at a white oak Sugar tree and Dogwood
near the foot of a hill N.E. corner to 4, thence North passing Wm. G.
Vanarsdale's corner at 10 poles, 64 poles in all to two hickories and Iron wood
on each side of Drain, Thence West 116 poles crossing a fork of Thompsons Creek
to a sugar tree and white oak on the south side of a ridge, Thence South 64
poles to a white oak and walnut on the north side of a ridge, thence East 116
poles, to the Beginning (containing 46 acres) Allotted to Patsy Potts wife of
John Potts [sic] [This should, of course, be Poulter, as should the Potter
earlier in the text.]
Lott 6 Bounded as follows viz
Beginning at the N.E corner of Lott 5 two hickories, and Iron wood on each side
of a drain thence West 116 poles to a white oak and sugar tree on the south
side of a hill, thence North 50 poles to two Sugar trees on the north side of a
ridge, thence east 116 poles recrossing Thompson's creek to two hickories and a
black oak on the top of a ridge, thence South 50 poles to the Beginning -
thirty six acres Allotted to Wharton Ransdale
Lott 7 Begins at the N.E corner of
lott 6 two hickories and a black oak on top of a ridge, thence west 116 poles
to two sugar trees on the north side of a ridge, Thence North 92 poles to
Buckeye standing in Micajah Mosby's field on the point of a ridge one of the
original corners of the Survey thence East 116 poles to two white oaks and Red
oak, thence South 92 poles to the Beginning (Sixty five acres) Allotted to the
legal heirs of Nancy Chamberlain formely Nancy Ransdale
1830 January 21st Again met on the premises and proceeded to lay off the
Balance of the Lotts.
Lott 8 Begins at William G. Vanarsdale's NWest corner a Mulberry Ash and
Buckeye near a Branch, thence East 128 poles to a white oak, ash, and Sassafras
Saplins, thence North 62 poles to a post oak tree in the South turn of a ridge,
thence West 128 poles to two Hickories and Ironwood on each side of a drain
thence South 62 poles to the Beginning (49 acres) Allotted to Mrs. Elizabeth
Sandford wife of John Sandford
Lott 9 begins at N.E of Lott 8 a post oak on the South turn of a ridge thence
West 128 poles to two hickories, and Iron wood on each side of a drain, thence
North 62 poles to a hickory and white oak on the north side of a ridge passing
the corner of Lotts 6 & 7 __ 12 poles, thence East 116 poles to a hickory
tree in a flat near a Branch, thence North 10 poles to two white oaks, and an
ash on the point of a ridge thence East 10 poles to a white oak and red bud, thence
South 72 poles to the Beginning __ Containing 50 acres Allotted to Jane Vorhise
wife of Jacob Verhise.
Lott 10 Begins at a hickory tree in a flat near a Branch, Thence North 78 poles
to two white oaks and Dogwood corner to William Killey in the old line, thence
West 116 poles to two white oaks and red oak on the side of a hill, thence
South 78 poles to a Hickory and white oak on the North Side of a ridge, thence
East 116 poles to the Beginning containing 56 acres Allotted to Polly Bourn
wife of William Bourn.
Lott 11 Begins at the N.E. corner of the the original Survey at two white oaks
and Hickory on the North side of a Drain Thence West 126 poles to two white
oaks and a dogwood corner to William Kelly and lott 10, Thence South 68 poles
to two White oaks and an ash on the point of a ridge Thence East 126 poles to a
white oak with the top cut off and two Dogwoods in Robt. B. McAfee's line
Thence North 68 poles to the Beginning. Allotted to the legal heirs of William
Ransdale deceased son of William Ransdale Senr.
Lott 12 Begins at two white oaks in
Robt. B. McAfee's line & corner to Mr. John Ransdale, Thence North 52 poles
to a white oak with the top cut off and two dogwoods, thence West 116 poles to
a white oak, dogwood and red bud on the East Bank of a drain, thence South 134
poles to a white oak ash and Sassafras Saplins in Wm. G. Vanarsdale's line
thence East 12 poles to a Stone in Mr. John Ransdale's line thence North 85
poles to two post oaks on the N turn of a ridge, thence East 104 poles to the Beginning
containing 48 acres. Allotted to the heirs of John Ransdale decd. one of the
heirs of William Ransdale viz James Ransdale, Chilton Ransdale, Saml. Ransdale,
Jiney Ann & Obetha Ransdale & one third for life to the widow,
Elizabeth Ransdale
January 21st 1830
completed the Surveys and having laid off the Several lots by metes and bounds
We the undersigned commissioners proceeded to Allot the Several Shares or
parcels of land as follows viz
1 50
acres to Zachariah Ransdale
Lott 2
acres to John Bohon senr. for life, remainder to his children by his wife Sally
Bohon (formely Sally Ransdale) viz William John, Ann, Mitchell formely Bohon)
Walter & Garnett Bohon & the heirs of Hannah Higgins.
Lott 3 To
Fielding Ransdale 50 Acres
4 To
Foxall Ransdale 50 acres
5 To
Patsy Polter (formely Patsy Ransdale) 46 Acres
6 To
Wharton Ransdale 36 acres
7 To
Nancy Chamberlains heirs viz Robert, Nancy Polly, Eliza Minors, William,
Minerva Spears, Julian & Melissa Chamberlain 65 acres
8 To
Mrs. Elizabeth Sandford formely Elizabeth Ransdale 49 acres
9 50
acres To Jael Voorhies (formely Jael Ransdale)
10 56
Acres To Mrs. Polly Bourne, formely Polly Ransdale
11 To
the legal heirs of William Ransdale deceased 54 acres
12 To
the heirs of John Ransdale deceased viz James Chilton, Samuel, Jeney Ann &
Obetha and one third to his widow Mrs. Betsy Ransdale for life.
All of which proceedings are hereby respectfully Submitted to the Court
B. McAfee
Commissioners J.
C. McKaney
Mercer County Sct Febuary County Court 1830
The forgoing Division of land between the heirs of William Ransdale deceased
was this day produced into Court and continued until the March County Court
1830 at which Court it was ordered to be recorded. Att Tho. Allin C.C.